Internet - What's That?

Just a quick not to apologize for not updating. We haven't had proper internet since we moved out of the guest house. We should be back up and running by Tuesday and I'll update more then. Here's a few quick tidbits of information:

1. I started German classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights. It's a simple class, taught mostly in German and I think I'll get enough out of it to get by at restaurants, stores and markets.
2. Matt deployed to Iraq. Projected to return in December. Will post address here when I get it.
3. I registered for two college classes and was sent information on contacts here for my internship. Lots of details to work out - but, getting it in order. Slowly.
4. We ordered a new Taggie for Olivia. Same exact one - just brand new. She asks for it daily and I'm not even sure it's shipped yet. Poor kid.
5. Completed the girls German school registration (minus their physicals) and entered them into Ballet and Tap class for the Fall.

Back to Reality

Well, it's been just about a week since Matt was notified that his next duty station will be in Germany. I was jumping up and down and, to be honest, ecstatic!..

Now, I'm back in reality. There is a general hassle when moving overseas. We have to sell Matt's 4-Runner which has seriously low mileage and is in fairly excellent condition for it's age. Then, we have to figure out what to put in storage, stock up a few items that may not be easily found over there (my favorite dishwasher detergent and weird things one wouldn't think about).

Before all the planning, however, we need orders! The military is known to change direction quite frequently. Matt could get his request for orders (RFO) within the next couple of weeks and they could contain a different location. It's unlikely - but, it's been known to happen! So, we wait (being a military spouse requires a lot of patience because we do a LOT of waiting).

In the mean time:

• Olivia is about to turn five. I can't believe it. I have horrible baby fever. My husband does not. End of story.
• Both Olivia and Lila have been showering me with this: "Mom, I have something to tell you....I love you!" It must be a stage. But, I love it anyway!
• The weather has been disappointing. Yup, I'm talking about the weather. Boring, I know. But, the lack of sun is getting to me a little bit. I've been taking lots of Vitamin D-3 and it has helped immensely. Generally, I really turn into a major depressed, nut-case. That stuff really does help. But, we're going on several weeks of only seeing the sun for short bursts here or there. Annoying. Spring can come now. Please. I'm begging. Thank goodness for my book club ladies and my wonderful neighbor, Amy, who I annoy daily with all kinds of random complaining.
• So far, no H1N1 or stomach bugs (Actually, Lila puked one time a few months ago but it was so painless, it doesn't count). Just typical colds (which knock me to ground because my severe allergies interfering with normal immune system function). In the stomach bug department, it may help that my kids eat close to a gallon of yogurt a week and I sneak it into everything I can. I'm trying incorporate more cultured foods and sometimes I make them kefir smoothies on top of their yogurt consumption. I'm a firm believer that Americans don't eat nearly enough cultured foods daily and are, therefore, more prone to stomach bugs than some other countries. But, then again, maybe we've just been lucky and tomorrow we'll be throwing up everywhere.
• We have a Prius. If you watch the news, no, we don't have break problems currently. Some of you have expressed concern. So, yes, we'll make sure to pay attention to the situation and get a good check-up before we head back overseas.

That's it. I have nothing else. Have a great weekend!

Army Love

The family in Germany - 2008

When our family visited Germany in May of 2008, Matt and I joked around about how cool it would be to be stationed in Germany. We fell in love with the country. In fact, Germany was our, surprising, favorite vacation destination during our two years abroad.

Matt's an outdoorsman through and through. His dream vacation or long weekend consists of hiking and climbing high peaks in the middle of winter and camping out overnight on the summit. And, while he's in grad school getting an MSA, I think his dream job after retiring from the Army would be forest ranger or something of the sort. Germany offers much more outdoor, deep in the woods, high in the mountains adventures than Portugal or Kansas. And, let's not getting started on the beer. Germany can accommodate both the brewer and beer snob.

The Army rarely grants dreams two times in a row. When we moved to Kansas this summer, I began to prepare myself for a less than desirable duty station. That's only fair, right? We got "ours." Our time was up. It was time to get back to the reality of normal military life. I was okay with that.

I wasn't okay with the Army holding out on us for six extra weeks (we were supposed to find out in mid-December). I wanted to start looking at school districts for the girls. I wanted to get Lila on wait lists for preschools. I had plans, you know!

I've been on edge for days, knowing the announcement was eminent. Yesterday afternoon, while Matt and I were out, he received a text message from a friend telling him to check his email. We hopped in our Prius, raced home and eagerly waited for Matt's computer to boot up and his email to open. I stared at him but didn't read over his shoulder (he hates that). He clicked on the email, scanned it over quickly, slammed himself back into the couch cushions with a, "Hrmm. Hrmmm. Ok." Shug, shrug.

I thought, "Crap!" and yelled, "What? Where?" He didn't speak; only pointed to the screen, where my eyes jumped past the, "Congratulations" and planted themselves on the only word that was important: "Germany."

I know this isn't fair. I'm not a mean-hearted person. I know there will be families who hated their last duty station and who got more bad news yesterday. They'll read my blog or my Facebook updates and hate on me. There's even a small part of me that thinks, "Wow. We need to trade with a family less fortunate. This is totally unfair." Then, there's the part of me that's like, well I do have Meniere's disease. Someday, I may not be able to travel much or at all. This may be my time to see the world. Who knows. It is what it is. Fair or not. Right now, I'm feeling the Army Love.

Now, we wait a couple more weeks to find out where in Germany. Then, we make decisions.

• Do we get rid of our dog? We spent $1,500 bringing him back from Portugal just a few months ago. Getting him back over will be close to another grand (or more). In three years time, we'll have spent over $4,000 in kenneling and shipping the dog overseas and back. He's turning into the most expensive, over-bred Spaniel ever. And, he's horribly behaved and terribly annoying.


• School for the girls: This decision was made during the visit to Germany in 2008 and etched in stone when Olivia became fluent in Portuguese. Our children will go to German schools. Olivia will be a bit behind to start off as kindergarten starts earlier in Germany than in the US (I believe). But, she's bright enough to catch up quickly (we hope) and has enough language mapping ability to catch on quickly (again, we hope). Being immersed in a language is nothing new to Olivia. If Lila has similiar langauge ability as Olivia did at her age in Portugal, she'll be fluent in German 4-5 months into the school year.

I can't wait to begin researching the area in which we'll live. I'm excited and anxious and seriously feeling bad for the families who didn't get the duty station they wanted. Matt has warned me to, once again, keep my excitement contained as to be fair to those families and I'll do my best!

We've still got a few more months in Kansas and we're going to enjoy, embrace and not rush this time we have with the very dear friends we've made here and who we'll have to leave behind in June!

Weekend in St. Louis

Olivia on the slide at the fabulous City Museum in St. Louis, MO (In this picture, Olivia looks so much like my sister, Sarah, did at this age!).

This past weekend, we drove to St. Louis, MO to pick up Matt's vehicle (shipped from Portugal). We decided to spend some time in the city and were pleasantly surprised by all the city had to offer! Of course, we made a stop at the Arch.

Lila paints a picture (at City Museum) in her pretty bonnet, acquired at a shop in the Arch.

I had visited St. Louis with my family as a teenager. However, I was still too young to realize what a family-friendly city it is! It's also becoming a "local" city. While eating at a local brewery, I spotted a little flier encouraging visitors and locals to, "Buy Local, spend wisely...the dollars you spend with locally owned independents keep city and county neighborhoods distinctive, vibrant, and stable."

I support this choice 100%. Here in Kansas, I try to buy local whenever possible. Whether it be locally-owned eateries or stores (I love The Pot Rack- a family-owned kitchen store here in Leavenworth). Sometimes I know I'm spending a bit more money than I would if I bought it online. But, I'm supporting not only the owners of the store or restaurant, who I often even get to meet, and offer suggestions or products I'd like to see them carry, but also the local community. St. Louis has an online Community Buying Guide. I wish each county had one! Even my husband, who is always telling me, "Economics will ALWAYS win," does, for the most part, support my locavore ways.

I meant for this to be the post header picture. The connection is so slow, it won't move the picture!

The best family photo we've gotten in a long time - despite Olivia's lack of desire to be photographed in the arch and Lila's lost hair tie.

I know we'll go back to St. Louis. There are a few more local breweries that we'd like to tour and so much more to do with families. It's a four-hour drive from our home here in Kansas and it's worth it! We saved on gas with our Prius. At one point, we averaged 51.6 MPG (which, if you're wondering, we have fit two Britax car seats and one booster in the back seats! It may not be the perfect carpooling car, but, it's perfect for a family of five to use on trips and around town. I truly believe there is no need for so many families to have two huge gas guzzlers - but, hey, that's the World According to Natalie!

If you're one of our friends already here in Leavenworth or moving here soon, I highly recommend spending some time in St. Louis!

Feels Like Home

Liv and Lila ride at Reading Reptile in Kansas City, MO.

Well, it's been nothing less than busy around here. However, it's beginning to feel like home. We're really enjoying it, surprisingly. Several people have asked if we have pictures of our house to post. I don't. Sorry. We haven't painted any of the rooms (Matt does not, I repeat, does not, want to paint - I have colors picked out - so if my mother-in-law comes to visit soon, we will get to work on it!), nor have we gotten the girls' bedroom set up, aside from beds, tables, dresser, basic blankets, pillows and sheets. I'm trying to find an inexpensive, cute bedding set. Maybe I should browse Craigslist.

Anyway, there wouldn't really be any great pictures to post. It's a modified raised-ranch. Four bedrooms, three full-bathrooms, two car garage, fenced-in backyard and so on. Aside from the carpet in all the rooms, except the kitchen and dining room (hardwood in there), I like the house. I love our neighborhood. Everyone is fabulous and friendly. It's just as good, if not better, as living on post. There is a neighborhood gathering at the park on Friday nights. We're really happy to have found such a great place to raise our girls for the next year or two.

Lila sniffing the scent coming out of the meter at Science City in Union Station.

Matt has entered a Master's program on top of CGSC. So, he is very busy studying. We've been attempting to give the girls earlier naps and an earlier bedtime so he can study in quite. Some nights this works out well and other times, Olivia (because, in all honesty, Lila is still a peach. She naps easily and goes to bed at night easily - always) is a pain most.every.night.

Climbing at Union Station

How have the girls handled the move? Well, Olivia is emotional, angry, sassy and just having a rough time of it. She asks to go to the beach, on a regular basis, knowing that there isn't one nearby. Lila, as I said in the previous paragraph, is a peach. She's taken to cuddling with me, cupping her hands on my face, stroking my hair and kissing me on the cheek. She's been begging to go to preschool with Olivia (We did find a preschool, with an elective, twice a week Spanish class - which we may or may not do, depending on whether she likes the class after she's taken it a couple of times, as it's pricey) and has cried her little face off both mornings Olivia has been so far. She's on the projected wait list for preschool, on post, in January (she's not yet three). In the mean time, I'm trying to get her involved with playgroups and trips to the library.

Both girls are signed up for ballet. They start on 1 September and they can't wait!!! The class is at the same time, therefore, I can bring a book and read (Mommy time, yes!) while they participate in class. I'm only a little irked that the ballet outfits they had already were not up to code for this school (they have attached tutus and this is a no-no at their dance school). So, of course, I had to order them each new ones.

Lila, once again, at Reading Reptile. Antagonizing the store cat.

I've been cooking my butt off (though, the unpacking is taken a back seat to my cooking) and I LOVE it! I have plenty of local produce and local, grass-fed beef, poultry, lamb, sellers who I buy from on a regular basis. I am so happy and fortunate to have found so many families, running small farms, who believe in the practices that I do. I'm striving to become a locavore in this crazy country where most of us have grown up leaning on huge grocery stores for nearly all of our food and have lost the tradition of growing our own and/or seeking out local whenever possible (I include myself in the above category-I am learning as I go). I can't grow a thing and will be leaning on my husband, blogs, books and friends to guide me as we begin a Fall family garden soon.

That's it for now. Sorry I don't have more pictures. Now, I must run and attend to my baking bread!

What's Been Going On

First off, I have to say that I LIKE it here. Really, I do. I know, I can't believe it either. I don't, necessarily, like Leavenworth. However, there are so many great towns nearby that I like. Towns hosting great farmer's markets and children's events. We're close to Kansas City, MO and Kansas City, KS. Who can, really, complain?! I miss Portugal, however, Kansas is, surprisingly, growing on me!

So, here's what's been going on:

• We bought a house. We move in today. It's about 10-minutes from post and many military families live in the same development. It's not my dream house, but, we look forward to making it our own, starting gardens, composting, and more.
• I have found several farmer's markets. Fresh, local eggs, lamb, beef, chicken, bison, produce, honey, cheeses, etc.
• We have already spent time in the following nearby towns: Kansas City, KS, Lawrence, KS, Overland Park, KS, Brookside, MO and Kansas City, MO. I think I like Brookside the best. With a nice, organic farmer's market on Saturday's and a great children's bookstore across the street, and a Burlington, VT kind of feel, I envision spending a good amount of time there.
• I have already found two, possibly, three babysitters. Thank goodness for a well-known Alaska family, with a teenage daughter, living here and the daughter recommending her best friends when she wasn't available.
• I found a gym, about 1-2 miles from our home, for $30/mo. plus $12/mo. for childcare. I can't wait to get back to the gym. I'm feeling so out of shape and need to shed a few PCS (move) pounds!
• We are searching for a preschool for Olivia and I am quite frustrated. I finally found one with some sort of a language program and it's a bit expensive. It'll mean cutting out a few things (mostly, eating out). The search will continue through next week, before having to decide as school starts on 17August.
• My Meniere's has flared up a bit - I'm pretty sure it's from the stress of moving. I have a hiss in my right ear (think, snake). However, I'll take the hiss over the vacuum cleaner-at-full-blast noise I had a few months ago (In early June, I went into somewhat of a remission - with only very mild ringing in both ears - only noticeable at night in complete quiet). However, the pressure and mild pain in both my ears is enough to drive me insane. I'm hoping this is short lived and I go back to being mostly symptom free soon. Regardless, I'm trying to be positive and not think too much about it (And, I am very very grateful that I have have not, as of this writing, had any problems with dizziness). As with any illness, the more you dwell on it, the worse you feel!
• I'm a bit stressed about decorating the house. We're trying to keep costs down and I'm just trying to focus on paint and window treatments for now. Working on one room at a time so as not to get too stressed and run down (I think stress, lack of sleep, and barometric pressure changes are my Meniere's "triggers.").
• Our street is brand spanking new and there isn't a cable Internet or DSL line in yet. Therefore, for the next month or two, we will be switching to dial-up Internet until cable and/or DSL comes to the street. Yikes. This will be tough. But, it's all we can do, aside from paying an arm and a leg for a satellite type service that, for the high cost and fairly slow connection, isn't worth getting into a two-year-contract.

That's it for now! The movers have arrived back at the house and I have to check out of this hotel! Depending on how slow or fast our dial-up is, it may (or may not) be a while before I update the blog again...Have a great final weeks of summer. For those of you in Vermont: I'm sending summer vibes your way!

Things That Made Me Happy Today

• This morning, I tried on a sundress that I wore on my honeymoon and discovered that it was too big! I promptly took it in to be altered.
• Today, I am wearing a new sundress and Olivia declared, in English and Portuguese, that I was very beautiful today.
• I was able to stock up on another non-FDA approved drug. One that stops vertigo attacks within a half hour (approx) and which my babysitter calls her Meniere's attack SOS (She raves about it - It's Stugeron Forte if any of my friends in medicine are curious). I have 120 pills. They do not expire until 2014. I hope I never have to use one. But, the pharmacist recommended I have one on me at all times, especially one in my car. She stated that it works much better than Antivert (AKA non-drowsy Dramamine) and does not cause drowsiness in most people. I believe it's been approved in the EU since 1955. I'm not going to contemplate why the FDA hasn't approved it. I'll just get angry because it probably has something to with politics or something so entirely stupid, I'll just start crying and yelling at innocent American doctors. I never imagined I'd get so excited about scoring non-FDA approved drugs. DH likes to tell me that there's a reason they aren't approved in the US (The US knows everything there is to know about proper medicine, right?!). While I don't want to be on any drugs, of course, both of the drugs have been approved here for so many decades and have yet to be pulled, I trust in them.
  
• Today, I am on day three of feeling 85% normal. Since April, I usually spend two-three weeks straight suffering from a loud buzzing in my right ear. It sounds much like someone running a vacuum cleaner next to my ear at all times (and just as loud). Nothing I do gets rid of it. After a mini-Meniere's attack on Saturday, the ringing went back to the way it's been for three years and other than that, I only suffer from mild pain and mild ear pressure. I do not expect this to last more than a few more days. However, today, I am so happy about it, I cried. Oh, to feel normal again. Bliss, I tell you!
• I had a wonderful seaside, sushi lunch with a good friend. The food was delicious, the views spectacular, the weather warm and breezy and the company perfect.
• My girls spent a good half hour this afternoon getting along while they "did" my hair. Currently, they are aspiring beauticians.

The only thing that could make this day better would be the girls going to bed just as nicely as they did last night (they were PERFECT)!

February Leftovers

Well, March is suddenly upon us and I thought I'd post some left-over pictures from February and update you all as to what's been going on.

It's Spring here on the coast of Portugal. On a recent sunny day, I took a walk on the coast and noticed that make-out season is, once again, in full-swing. On any warm and bright day, you can find couples of all age groups, in any type of public setting, petting and making out. Nearly all of it would be considered extremely inappropriate behavior in most US cities in towns. When I first arrived, I was shocked and, somewhat appalled (I believe I even posted about it). Now, I have to be over-it. It's just their "way." I do, every now and then, find it hard not to stare to see just how far a couple will "go" in public.

Olivia building a castle out of limestone - Jerez, Spain

Hurry up, Mom! The sun is in my eyes!

Matt made me take this picture - Cadiz, Spain

Matt filling up on beer during Carnival in Cadiz, Spain

Late in February, two exciting things happened. First, Matt got promoted. When I first began dating Matt, I thought majors were so old. Of course, I do not think that now (32 is not old!). But, in the military world, Matt's career is now half-over. We were reflecting, the other day, as to how quickly Matt's military career is going by. Often, I would think that it would be forever and day before I'd see civilian life again. However, as we mark over two-years past that deployment-that-seemed-to-never-end, I'm more and more aware of how quickly we will see the other side. I am grateful that Matt's career choice provides us with certain job stability during these troubling economic times. Maybe I won't say that in a couple of years when Matt is deployable again - but, I can say it now...

The second-most-exciting thing that happened, in February, is that Lila was moved to a "big girl" bed. Saturday morning, I was in the kitchen making breakfast when I heard clunking upstairs. I soon discovered that Matt had decided it was high time Lila, now 28-months, moved out of her crib. I was not ready for this. Olivia was just about three when we made the switch. As Matt turned her crib into a toddler bed, I stood by, wringing my hands, and grumbling that it was a mistake. Three hours later, during nap, Lila would prove me wrong. She has transitioned to her own bed without one single problem. I do not know how I succeeded in having two children, in a row, transition to a bed without any issues. I am aware that this is not common. However, she still likes to pour yogurt in her hair and then smear it over her body. So, I guess she makes up for her good bedtime behavior elsewhere.

In just a few weeks, we begin hosting a series of visitors. In the mean time, we're just relaxing as a family, enjoying the lovely weather and spending time with our local friends.

This Makes Me Happy

What is this I see????

A blue, blue sky!

The sea looks as if the sun has spilled millions of diamonds down from above. I swear the birds are singing songs of joy.

It has been raining here, nearly nonstop, for two months. I haven't complained too much about it because I love Portugal. This country has warmed my heart and my soul. The time we have spent here has been the happiest time of my life.

But, I need the sun and blue skies nearly as much as I need food and oxygen. Many of my friends embraced Alaska. Some fell in love with the The Last Frontier the way I have fell in love with Portugal. They hiked mountains, took up hunting, fishing, berry picking and all things Alaskan. Many are considering retiring there. They basked in the sun when it graced us with it's presence and dealt with it's leaving with a shrug, running into the "night" with arms wide open. Not me (thankfully, my friends' positive energy helped me get through those dark months).

Alaska, like my home state of Vermont, is beautiful (okay, it is even more beautiful than Vermont-except for the Fall. There is no Fall like Fall in Vermont). That being said, I shamelessly admit that I did not embrace Alaska as many of my friends did. There, as it often did growing up in Vermont (my home town records an average of 80-days of sun yearly), it was as if I had something heavy and dark filling my heart and my mind. I felt trapped in darkness. Always waiting, always hoping. Wanting, needing...the sun!

So, these past two months in Portugal have been a bit...rough. Mommy/wifey has been a bit...let's just say...grumpy!

Today, as Lila and I road the train down into Cascais to the market, the rays of sun danced off our faces and washed away the darkness that had set deeply and firmly into my entire body. The forecast is looking good.

Mommy is back! Mommy is singing, "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone..."

Can I Get Some of That Via IV?

I'm sitting here drinking hot Green Tea Triple Echinacea. I don't know if echinacea really does boost the immune system (I hope that the power of wishful thinking makes it work). If it does, I need to be hooked up to an IV with a constant flow. I am a mother. I cannot be sick. There is no one to replace me next week when daddy is away. I have to be alive and well for my children.

Last week, Lila came down with her first stomach bug. Let me tell you, picking pineapple chunks out of a child's hair when it didn't get there because she was just goofing off, is never ever fun.

I'm all about baby-wearing. The Ergo Baby Carrier has saved me from going insane more than once. However, I'm not all about wearing a sick child on my back when I don't know what could, at any minute, come out of rear or mouth of child.

On Friday night, just a few hours after I brought Lila to the doctors, she stopped crying and was done with it. I was so hoping that it skipped the rest of us. It appears that that particular nastiness may have. However, my dear Olivia woke up with a headache this morning. Four-year-olds do not get headaches. Thinking it was a ruse to avoid school, I gave her Tylenol and sent her on her way. Stupid, mean mommy. When I picked her up a couple of hours later, she was crying and complaining that her legs and head hurt and that she was cold.

Fever, body aches = flu???

Lila just picked her nose and ate it.

I'll be sitting in the corner, drinking echinacea tea. I will think happy, positive thoughts:

"The rest of us will not get sick, we will not get sick, we will not get sick...."

My Superheros Save the Day

I've been in a grouchy funk for the past two weeks. I think it's the rain getting me down. I can only take so much rain and gloomy weather before I start to go out of my mind. It's been a rainy winter here.

Today, I was especially grouchy. The kids, obviously feeding off my grouchiness, were getting into everything as I struggled to act like a mature adult and not throw a tantrum every time they dumped out a toy bin all over the floor, spilled milk, fought with each other and so on.

It didn't help that daddy left on another business trip this morning and the sun only peaked out for a few short minutes here or there throughout the day. On a day like today, if I didn't have kids (or if I had gotten an afternoon sitter), I would have grabbed a book (and, possibly, my laptop), gone, by MYSELF, to a restaurant close enough to the sea so I could hear the waves crashing as I leisurely dined on lunch and then a coffee (what I love about Europe is that you can stay at your table for as long as you want and no server will bug you or even dare to drop a hint that you leave in order to make room for waiting guests).

Let me get to the point of this post. It all turned out all right at the end of the day. Just before bed, right after baths, Olivia dug out the superhero capes I recently bought them at Etsy. She and Lila "flew" around the house as I looked on and snapped pictures. They put on quite a show and, somehow, their happiness and laughter got me out of my bad mood. As soon as I was in better spirits, I was able to put them to bed easily!

We all know how happy any parent is when the kids go to bed quickly and easily! I have a whole evening of quiet solitude to look forward to and I can enjoy it so much more knowing that the girls went to bed with smiles on their faces because mama wasn't in a bad mood anymore!

Frazzle - Dazzle

Things that currently frazzle me:

• See above picture. I encourage creativity. Not destruction. Taking apart a doll house while mama is in the shower and using bubble wrap as flooring is creative and, yet, destructive. Dollhouse pieces were scattered all over the kitchen, dining room and living room.
• Sudden piercing, incessant screams for help while I am navigating through round-abouts and tight, sometimes dangerous roads.
• Lila's current love of pouring/shaking left over water, yogurt drink or milk all over floors, tablecloths and herself.
• Children climbing on top of me when I am trying to read, eat, or go to the bathroom.
• Olivia's need to empty out every single drawer in search of one item of clothing.
• Olivia's obsession with taking off Lila's clothes and trying to put a swimsuit on her (we have very poor heating in our house - this is not okay), while Lila is screaming, "Don't touch me, Iia, don't touch me!"
• Tiny hands reaching onto the counter top while I'm cooking and spilling and/or breaking something onto the floor.
• Our dog's food aggression. Stealing food off the counter, out of kids hands and, often, breaking an expensive dish in the process of stealing (Anyone want a dog? I'm done with him!).
• Begging for food ten minutes after a big snack, dinner, lunch, etc.
• Bedtime/naptime antics.

Things that dazzle me:

• "I love you too, mommy!"
• The girls singing, "All the single ladies, all the single ladies."
• Olivia singing songs in Portuguese.
• Olivia hugging and kissing Lila after a long day at school.
• Lila grabbing the sides of my face with both hands and saying, "Hellwo, mommy!" and then hugging me.
• The girls screaming, "Daddy, daddy, daddy!" after he returns from a trip.
• Daddy's smile when he cuddles with his girls.
• A quiet (girls sleeping soundly), clean house.
  

Tidbits

How are you all doing? It’s been a rough month, as far as illnesses go, as you all know. Things, however, are looking up. Here’s what’s going on:

• DH doesn't have a lot of vacation time this year. However, we booked a room on the Navy base in Rota, Spain for this weekend. We'll hit the NEX and Commissary (American Stores). I need to see if I can find some Levis and am hoping to stock up on a few different types of flour that I can't find around here and that the NEX here doesn't keep in stock.


• After Rota, we'll head to Gibraltar. Gibraltar is a British overseas territory. We're looking forward to eating at some English pubs, shopping (okay, only I am interesting shopping) and exploring the area. Hopefully, we'll do some hiking. Matt has a great hiking/walking guide of the area.


• Liv has taken to whining ALL. THE. TIME. DH thinks she gets it from school. I'm not so sure. She cries when she wakes up in the morning and after nap. She cries if her chapstick and sippy cup are not aligned properly (her way) on her nightstand. She cries if I give her a red plate instead of a pink one, she cries if her backpack isn't snapped shut. She's becoming a bit OCD (compared to me who is not OCD about anything) about having certain things in a particular order and cries (read: freaks out) when things are not the way they are "supposed" to be.


• Liv has decided she does not like ballet, school or swimming lessons. As soon as she gets to school, ballet or swimming, she has fun. Getting her there, however, is a problem. I'm trouble-shooting, and hoping to figure out the root cause of this, soon!


• Liv has had a sudden change of heart in regards to nap and bedtime. She now proclaims she's sleepy and ASKS to go to bed. At first, we thought it was just because she was sick. However, she is mostly recovered now, aside from a cough, and she still goes to bed nicely. Some sort of mental illness going on there.


• Lila is starting to toilet train. We make it to the toilet at least once a day and have had success up to three times daily in both "departments." Slow but steady progress...


• Lila is becoming more and more perceptive. Today, she noticed that the flags were not up at daddy's work like they usually are. She took us both by surprise when she said, "Daddy, the flags are gone today."


• I am completely sucked into reading, "Twilight" (see sidebar for link). I cannot put it down. I am NOT a sci-fi or fantasy fan. However, I bought the book because so many people were raving about it. It's definitely, in my opinion, written for the young adult audience, but, I'm captivated nonetheless!


• I finished, "The Pillars of the Earth" last week and highly recommend it, despite it being a long read (see sidebar for link) and, often times, graphic.


• DH has been brewing beer like mad. He'll be moving onto all-grain brewing soon and experimenting with different recipes. There isn't much for great tasting beer here in Portugal (in our opinion) and everyone at work, who he shares his homebrews with, is quite impressed.

That's it on our end for now (above pictures are from our walk on the nearby boardwalk last night).

Precious Moments with Daddy

Humm, how can I get daddy to wake up?? Maybe a light kick will do the trick...

Since daddy works long hours and travels a lot, every moment the girls get with him is precious. Early Sunday morning, the girls hopped up on the couch with daddy and enjoyed rare moments of cuddle time with him.

Daddy, never quite caught up on sleep, enjoys a brief slumber

A side note: If you missed the stains on our couch, great. If you noticed them and you do not yet have kids (because if you have kids, you already know this), be warned! When couch shopping, knowing kids are in your future, buy kid-friendly fabric covered furniture (or the slip-covered kind). We will be replacing our furniture as soon as we get back to the States. What were we thinking when we bought furniture that doesn't allow for up spit-up, drool, sticky fingers, leaky sippy cup spills, snot smear and leaky diapers to be cleaned up well (vomit has yet to be tested - but, I'm quite sure the couch will be thrown out as soon as that happens)? And when we do get it up, the furniture is forever faded in that spot! Too bad couches can't be hidden in the closet or guest room when guests come...

Weekend Pictures and Video

Nap-deprived Lila Kate snuggles up to mama in the Ergo.

This weekend, we attended a Fall festival at NATO. It was during nap time, as all the events are, of course. However, the girls handled it really well and had a good time with all their friends.

Liv sits nicely as she gets painted up as a butterfly

Liv and Katie share a friendly hug

I'll leave you with a video taken over the weekend of the girls reading and singing together.

Lila Kate Update

Lila poses with friends, Chris and Ana

Lila is finally starting to show signs of her normal self. She's still easily fatigued and a tad bit feverish - but, handling it all very well. The Motrin and antibiotic are doing their jobs well.

Tonight, for the first time, she said, "Mama, my ear hurt!" I immediately thought, "Why, oh, why, sweetie didn't you complain of a sore ear days and days ago instead of acting like you had the flu?"

DH is home, finally. Ecstatic doesn't even begin to describe how everyone has felt. We had a great weekend of relaxing, long naps, and leisurely walks here on the sunny, cool seaside. Olivia, confused as to why DH was still around, asked tonight, "Daddy, why aren't you working?"

I, myself, finally got a bit of energy back (I've been sick too) and health back, so we decided to invite some friends over for breakfast this morning. I knew Ana would cheer Lila up further (Lila and Ana have hit it off) . So, Ana and her husband, Chris, accepted and brought over Matt's new counterpart (visiting from Italy), Josh.

We enjoyed good company, baked french toast (See side bar for recipe. Note that I changed the topping a bit. I used organic brown sugar, maple syrup instead of corn syrup, and left out the raspberry topping - I didn't think it needed it, however, fresh raspberries would have been a nice touch) pumpkin muffins, coffee and mimosas. YUM!

After we finished eating, Lila noticed Ana wrapping herself up in her pashmina and just had to have one too. She improvised with a fleece wrap and a picture was too cute to pass up!

We're looking forward to an illness-free week (please!) and we're excited that DH will be here with us all but one day this week! What a treat!

Poor Poor Pitiful Me

Liv's pretends to talk on the phone and bake at the same time - like mom, of course!

It was my third weekend alone with the girls (aside from the half-hour kite adventure last weekend with DH). You would think that a book club meeting on Thursday night, a Lisbon tour with the spouses' group all day Friday, and a dinner out with a girlfriend on Friday night would rejuvenate me. I would wake up Saturday morning excited to spend the entire weekend with my girls, right? Nope! I don't know what got into me - but, I am, admittedly, burnt out! Please, someone give my husband some free time with his family before his wife loses it and his kids think he deserted them!

As I went to bed on Friday night, all I could think about was sleeping in on Saturday morning. I wondered how long my body would sleep if it were able to do so uninterrupted. I craved a weekend of quiet. All I wanted was to crawl into bed with my new book and read until my heart's content. Pajama and take-out weekend of doing nothing!

By 6:50am on Saturday morning, I was hugging a feverish-looking (but not, actually, feverish) three-year-old, green snot dripping down out of her nose, smeared across her chin and drying on her cheeks. As she screamed for breakfast, repeating her requests over and over again, she woke up her sister. As I rushed through trying to make breakfast and feed the starving toddlers, I thought, "How am I going to make it through this weekend without losing my sanity? How can I find a way to be nice to my kids when I just want to sleep, read and be by myself?"

Out of ideas, Saturday morning, I let them draw on and cut nearly everything they wanted. Later, we went to the park, where I tried to sit and read a book (yeah, right) while they played. I fed them noodles with butter no less than three times as meals. I tried to make up for a nutrition-lacking diet with homemade yogurt drinks blended with berries, bananas and honey. I managed to read them a book here, a book there, in between doing laundry, mopping floors, picking up, picking up, trying to remain calm and sneaking in half a chapter here, half a chapter there.

This morning, as thoughts of escaping to a local spa and blowing my husband's hard-earned (and he is working his a** off these days) money came to mind, I decided to let Olivia help me make pumpkin muffins, hoping that that was all the one-on-one attention she would need for the day (or until Lila woke up and they played, happily, together, while I sat my butt on the couch and read). As we finished the muffins, Lila woke up. Snotty and yelling, "Mama, I sick! I sick! I go in the Ergo!"

Within an hour, I had two naked toddlers (because why keep clothes on when you're sick and it's colder than it's been since April?) , snotty, and uninterested in anything and everything except me. Since both were feverish today, I kept them at home. Olivia begged to fill up and go in her baby pool (it's freezing out) and threw a tantrum when I said no. Lila begged to go to the beach (In the Ergo, of course).

When nap time came around and I closed each of their doors, silence enveloping me, I ran to my bed, crawled under the covers, opened my book, read a few pages and, eyes dropping, fell asleep...For all of two minutes until my body betrayed me and refused me sleep. I could feel a sore, slimy throat and itchy nose coming on. I needed sleep and yet it wouldn't come! Am I in for it this week! One sick mom and two sick kids equals a recipe of tears, snot, tissues, hugs and hope - hope for a reprieve in DH's schedule! We could all use a little TLC right now. But, then again, so could he!

Despite it all, we made it through the weekend. And, tonight, as Olivia bathed, she cracked me up when she said something that proves she is my daughter (read: mom is germophobe):

"Mom, my friend, Maria, at school, said that there was a kid in our school (read: her class), a boy, who was there sick. She said I might catch a cold from him. I did. I got my cold from him. Just like Maria said. He brings medicine to school. I don't have any medicine at school."

Maria doesn't speak a lick of English. Maria is her second-best friend in school (Carolina is her big big friend - as her teacher says. Teacher doesn't speak too much English either). When I'm taking pity on myself and feeling self-absorbed and selfish, leave it to one of my girls to snap me out of "it, "give me a good laugh and feeling of pride - because I know Olivia had to translate that, in her head, in order to tell me that story.

Way to go Liv!

Daddy Who?

Signs of Fall are slowly appearing here in Portugal. The leaves changed to lighter shades of greens and yellow before turning brown, falling and filling up the sidewalks. The evenings and mornings are very cool. Up until a few days ago, it was still warming up into the 70's. This week, we've required long sleeve shirts as it's stayed in the 60's (I know this seems warm to my Alaska friends - but when it's in the 80's for months on end, 60-degree, windy weather is quite a change for us).

After dropping Olivia off at school each morning, Lila and I either go to a playgroup or she joins me during a physical therapy session (I injured my MCL a few weeks ago running - not sure if it's post-worthy right now). Then, we pick up Olivia and head home for lunch and naps. After dinner, I immediately start a long-bedtime routine. I recently started getting the girls ready for bed at 6:30. I give them my undivided attention (no TV, computer or phone). We read books, have baths (on bath nights) and start the process of going to bed. If I try to put them to bed quickly, I have more outbursts and resistance. So, I've tweaked the bedtime routine and Olivia (I had the biggest problem with her) is going to bed quite nicely now.

Daddy Who?

DH has been working long hours. He sees the girls, briefly, in the mornings for about 3-5 minutes, if he sleeps in. An average work day begins at approximately 6:30am, and ends a 9:30pm. If he has a function to attend, he'll work until 11:00pm or later. Lately, he has worked weekends. The girls do not understand his desire (need) to sleep in on his free weekends. Imagine working 70 or more hours a week, all the while, looking forward to sleeping in on the weekend, only to have your toddlers jump on you at 6:50am, Saturday morning, begging you to play with them.

He's also been away on TDY a lot. In fact, he's leaving for another week tomorrow. His travel and work schedule has begun to grate on the girls and I. Olivia is acting out. She's a daddy's girl and this has been really hard on her. My patience has started to wear thin and so on. If he were deployed, it would be, in some ways, easier, because you develop a different frame of mind. A little bit of dad here and there becomes a tease and all become frustrated.

All that being said, I hate to blog about this because many of my blogger friends have deployed spouses. And, personally, I feel moaning and groaning about my husband's long hours is a bit insensitive. My DH does crawl into bed with me at night and when the going gets really tough, I have to remind myself of that. Many wives are crawling into bed at night, engulfed in loneliness, and hoping that their spouse is safe. They deserve a shout out! I know they have it harder than I do right now!!

We're all hoping his rough schedule lets up soon. However, I'm aware that it may not. So, I'm trying to grin, bear it and figure out new ways of managing and adjusting to it on a day-to-day basis.

Other than that, we've been fairly healthy, so far (Liv is coming down with a cough, as I write). Liv enjoys school and Lila is still as sweet as ever. And, despite DH's crazy schedule, I still wouldn't trade living here for anything!

Fun in the Sun

Summer is in full-swing here in Portugal. We've been having fun in the sun, that's for sure! The beaches are swarmed, beer flowing steadily from taps, the smell of grilled fish luring passersby into the beach eateries all along the coast. On any given day, driving down the marginal, you'll see bathing-suit clad locals and tourists strolling to and from the beach. Love-struck couples walk hand-in-hand, stopping for kisses so passionate, you'd think they were being filmed for a love scene in a movie.

The mornings and evenings are cool and breezy. The children fall asleep quickly and deeply after a long day in the sun. Life is good!

We've been attending playgroups and barbeque's. When we are home, we spend it relaxing and out of the sun - giving our bodies a chance to wind-down and recover after such fun and sun-fill days!

Lila is still uncomfortable in the water. However, she is making progress. She's starting to kick her feet in the baby pool and splash water on her face, blow occasional bubbles if I get in with her and so on. I'm going to try to spend the next couple of weeks easing her into the water further. Hopefully, her fear will subside. Olivia, on the other hand, becomes more at ease with the water every day. She puts her whole body under water and swims a few strokes before coming up for air. She's not afraid of jumping in on her own. I'd like her swim instructor to push her a little harder in order to get her more comfortable and stronger when swimming without any swim aides. I think she's just about ready for that.

It is so beautiful here. The blue skies and blue sea, blending with old structures and new. Sail boats dot the coastline. It's often hard to keep your eyes on the road when driving down the scenic coastline. Some of my friends have views of the sea (from their balconies) so lovely, I just stand and gaze out, sighing sadly when I have to turn and leave.

I am looking forward to visiting home in a few weeks. However, I will certainly miss it here! It's a good thing that summer here lasts through October. When I get back in late August, there will be plenty of fun times in the sun left!

What They're Doing Now - Olivia

It's been a while since I've written about what the girls are saying and doing. So, here's a quick update on Olivia:

Olivia

• "I'm smoke'n hot!"
• "What's your name?" (Asking in Portuguese)
• "That is inappropriate!"
• "Daddy is my best friend." or "Lila is my best friend."
• "When is Lila going to get up?"
• "Bang your head!" (Singing to Quiet Riot)
• "I want to do a project."
• "It's not dark out anymore; we can get up now!"
• "Why is he/she naked?" (In response to the bikini or Speedo clad locals).
• "What are we going to do in the morning?" (Repeated OVER and OVER at bedtime)
• "Never mind."
• "Why aren't you listening to me!"

Olivia has been getting up earlier than in the past. She was rising around 8:00-8:30am. The past month, she's been waking up at 7:00 on the dot. A few times, recently, she has woken up around 6:15am. I do not allow this. I allow my girls up at 7:00 with a 15-minute window. Since they go to bed at 8:00pm, waking up earlier than 7:00am results in hysterical crying and behavioral issues by 11:00am. When she rises earlier than we allow, Matt and I explain to her that just because it's light outside, it doesn't mean it's time to get up and we put her back to bed. This has resulted in kicking, screaming and hysterical crying. Always resulting in falling back asleep until, at least, 7:30-7:45am.

I've been worried that Olivia would give up a nap around this age. It hasn't happened...yet. Though, we do struggle from time to time for a week here or there. I've mentioned, in the past, that Matt and I never truly gave up naps. Since infancy, Matt and I have cherished a nap whenever we have a chance! So, I'm hoping the same will be for our children.

Olivia spends most days naked, jumping in out of the baby pool or sprinkler. She appreciates long talks with her many babies, reading books, listening to books on CD, doing projects, playing with her sister (read: telling her sister what to do), wearing Lila's clothes, putting Lila's clothes on her dolls, going to the park and beach, talking to grandparents and her cousin on the phone, watching home videos and, as always, snacks.

Her favorite color is pink.