HER FIVE CENTS

Cole gave me a planner about two years ago for my birthday. The cover is faux pleather gray and features rose gold embossing of a crescent moon with rays coming from the top and some constellations underneath, also embossed in rose gold. It's spiral-bound.  It's also undated. This goes great with my inconsistency in using a planner which I've always wanted to be different. I used to think I hated undated planners but I was wrong about that and turns out, lots of other things too. Ha. Anyway, I found this page in that planner dated (via the opposite page) May 2022 and it made me laugh and almost cry. I did those things, y'all. I did them all. 

I can't wait to tell you more about all that but it won't be today. It was that month (May) I showed up solo to ecstatic dance in the park in Manitou Springs and met some stellar humans who also introduced me to the drum circle that would forever change mi vida (my life). 

It was worth it though! 

A brief history (cause you know I'm all about them pics, bout them pics, bout them pics): 

Construction on the road began in 1917 and was intended to substitute another road which was only passable in the summer and through enemy territory (WWI). This road was accessible by mule, not near the enemy and usable all year round. According to the sign at the beginning of the road with no attributable names, the completion of the road was defined as, "an enterprise of giants, that no other work equals along the entire European front" and, "a miracle of courage and work of unequalled greatness", and "a true and significant marvel in the grandeur of military engineering".

I couldn't agree more from what we saw and that was only a little bit. It was also hard not to think of the work and the effort and the history that was made while it was being built and after completion. I was in awe!

I think we made it to 10 tunnels? I'm not sure. At the very beginning of our hike, we saw a group of guys who were on their way back and who were clearly speaking English. David quickly said something to them so we stopped to chat for a minute. They had started in the early morning (it was around 3ish when we saw them) and I asked them if it was worth it. I remember the one guy saying, "Worth it? Yes. Would I do it again? No." We all chuckled and I'm sure his compadres agreed.

The kids did VERY well! I'm super proud of Genevieve who not only did it in her "Kids" (Keds) but also did it mostly on her own! David only had to carry her through the first few tunnels before she was brave enough to carry her own flashlight and use her own legs. The older two had a lot of fun. By the end and on the way back, Sadie didn't even want to use her flashlight. She was also very content to help carry the backpack.

For all the whining they do about wanting to stay home and not go anywhere, they sure do well once we get them out there.

Now the pictures (some of which you could probably have seen via Google although these ones are strictly mine. I can't help it, #ILovePhotography)

#photography

We'll take you here if you want to come visit! 

Is that one of those rites of passage like a broken bone or a bee sting is? I'm pretty sure this is the first time any of my kids have had it. Although, my dear Sadie had that one time with the Vaseline in her hair...so maybe I should count my blessings?

Anyway, the secret, easiest way to get gum out of your kids hair is to:

Cut it out

That's it! Magic right? Are you disappointed? I didn't even bother to Pinterest other ways because after the night I had previous, I was in no frame of mind to deal with the weeping and wailing that would undoubtedly accompany the combing through of sticky gooey grossness.



Can you please explain to me why Genevieve woke up 8 times last night crying? Do you know the sound of nails on a chalkboard? That's what her crying in the middle of the night sounds like to me? Don't judge me! I was so exhausted already.

4 year old life is proving to be just as fun as 3 year old life but with more words. Today I was outside with my friends in the 'hood and Genevieve came over with no pants or underwear on, carrying her pull-ups and told all of us in the vicinity that she did not poop in the toilet and was going to poop in a pull-up. We laughed and I cried inside. lol. That's my kid.

Also, I have been inspired by a few fellow full-time mom's to Just Do It when it comes to starting an online business. I am STILL going back and forth about what I want to do full time so I'm just going to do it all. For now. Until I am able to narrow down my focus, I'm going to do the things I enjoy. Therefore, I am going to start listing some of the fun things I find at thrift stores or antique or flea markets here in Germany. I will also post some of the digital things I have created over the years. Eeek. I'm nervous and also really excited.

Are you on Snapchat? If you are, please tell me. I have restarted that endeavor and it's pretty fun! Anyway, this is it for now! 

I remember having to watch the informative video on this before we left the hospital with Jackson. My thoughts were filled with judgement towards any parent who would even consider shaking their baby to death. How could they ever?

Now I understand.

Except I've moved on to Shaken Toddler Syndrome.

Don't judge me! I'm mostly kidding.  Let me just tell you how the events of today unfolded.

Nevie really wanted to ride her bike today. The sun was out so I totally understood the desire. I told her what she had to do to get ready to go outside since it was still chilly...just the regular things really, shoes, pants, a jacket at least to go over her summer outfit she was wearing.

Genevieve did not want to wear her summer romper/jumper as that. She wanted both legs in one hole. As I was helping her with this task, I noticed she had Sadie's bathing suit bottoms on which were much too big for her. I mentioned something about it and you can probably guess how that went down. Then we got to her shoes. She hates socks. She had on capri's "tied" at the waist by her own doing. I really was pushing the socks to at least cover some part of her exposed legs. No. No. No. I wish I could take a picture of the outfit but she tripped and fell in a big puddle so we had to change the outfit.







So then I went outside to get her bike out of the garage. I was going back inside to get a jacket and she immediately started crying about how she was scared to be outside alone WHICH has never been an issue until this very day. Last year in the summer I would often find myself with an escapee on my hands...the same one standing before me crying about being scared? What?

Anyway, so I decided to sit in the car because I was cold. She then told me she wanted to get in the car with me and I told her no. So then she cried again. We went inside after that.

Thankfully her favorite person lately, David our neighbor boy friend, came over and he entertained her for much of the day. Even after that though, there have been a few times I have wanted to give her a tiny shake. But not really. Please don't call CPS on me, although in the Army it's called FAP just in case you do decide to call in which case I will promptly remove this blog which won't do any good because ...interwebs.

In real life though, she is a really great kid. She brings joy to my life on a daily basis. Often times, after getting on her for something she will say, "You are the best mommy ever" and I want to hide my head in shame. She is generous and kind and one of the most thoughtful people I know even at 3 years old. So while I complain about the nuances of threenager life, I really am grateful to have this one in mine.

So, you know those travel bloggers? The ones with glossy photos and beautifully edited pictures? Well that's not me. Nor is that real life (for me). I wish it was. Believe me I do.

However, this is how it really goes on a regular basis:

We drove the 2 3 hours to Ludwigsberg which is near Stuttgart. We've never been there before. So we don't know how parking is. We drove around for awhile trying to figure it out and at the last second David suggested that he drop us off at a bus stop while he parks. It was really sweet of him. Because me and walking long distances don't get along. So in a rush, we unloaded. Me, the 3 kids, the backpack, my purse. Check. All there. Except right as he drove away (a bus was coming to the stop), I realized I didn't grab my phone which we were using as GPS.

I didn't even know what to do. We had made no plans whatsoever.

So we went to the entrance we were closest to and hung out there for awhile. There were so. many. people. Like the most I've ever seen. Jackson was close to wetting himself so we purchased tickets (for everyone) and went inside the gate. Thankfully there was a bathroom right there because Jackson reallly needed to go.

Then he got stuck. Like he couldn't figure out how to open the door. And he was crying. And we are in Germany so people were trying to talk to him and to me and they were using a key to try and open the door. It was just misery. Meanwhile, the people. The lots of people. I have 2 other kids who were joyously playing in the rock dirt near the bathroom. Ahhhh! Stress.

We finally started to make our way somewhere because we had been there awhile. My next thought was that we would go to where the food is. Only I couldn't read the signs. If you have ever been to Ludwigsberg Palace, then you know how big and how crazy it is. There are random entrances and you have to exit to go around the palace to get to this OTHER part of the gardens. Anyway,  David had talked to Nick and they were going to eat. We were all hungry and had talked about eating while we were still all together. So I was a smart person and used my logic and decided that that would be where they (him and Chelsi) would go next.

We waited. In the throngs of people. The throngs of people all wearing the same colors Chelsi and David were (grey and black). I looked hopelessly around for a familiar face. Was that Sarah? Where was Nick? Surely they were somewhere.

And they were. David found me (he said my shirt stood out. Which it did. But I was disappointed it wasn't my hair lol)  and soon thereafter Chelsi came up with Nick and Sarah. Relief.

So anyway, I was kind of over it by then. But thankfully it was still worth it. We got pumpkin hamburgers, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin spritzers, and pumpkin chutney which I totally can't wait to eat with our favorite naan.

Here are my not-so-glossy pictures.

Ahhh! Love all these people!

It means Fly! I love it.

Stop Eating Animals!

What are you doing to celebrate Fall?

I don't know who this is.

Nevie AND Sadie ADORE Christian

Should i send this to TMZ?

Chelsi and Jerms used the luggage cart as an oversized skateboard. There's also video.

 At least I have a lot of pictures like this to keep me company. :-)