I Heart Jogging and the Paradigm of New Stuff, New Passion

I'm really loving jogging right now, which is odd, because I really hate jogging. Or I did in the past. Even in prior attempts at running, I'd do it out of obligation but would never really love it.

This time is different though. And I blame it all on the new stuff paradigm. You know, like how you were always a more diligent student at the beginning of the year because of shiny new supplies. Or how you suddenly become an ace organizer after you get a new planner. 

Well, I got a new double stroller ( how have I been living without one for ten months?) that just so happens to be a jogging stroller. So, naturally, I decided to take up running, first of all, because I could. 

I can run out in public and it's not a big deal. I can run in shorts. And a tank top. And it's not a million degrees out. 

And secondly, because I had a fancy, new jogging stroller that I wanted to take for a spin. 

And I love it! I'm still no good at it but I'm working on it. And since I have to replace my shoes, socks, and athletic clothes while we are stateside, I'm hoping that the new stuff paradigm will work in my favor.

Maybe I should get a new planner to schedule out my purchases to optimize on the new stuff paradigm.

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I Heart Jogging and the Paradigm of New Stuff, New Passion

Catching Up...Again

Okay, ya'll. I'm so terribly behind I don't even know how to catch up. I'm having blogger guilt on a a daily basis. What if I pare it down to twenty phrases or so?

Okay, here we go.

Orlando, Florida
Ian's Family
Swimming
Walks to the lake and park
Beach days
Target
Saw tons of friends!
Participated in Cow Appreciation Day
Girls' Night
More restaurants than I can shake a stick at
I joined the iPhone world

Port Charlotte, Florida
My extended family
Swimming
Copious amount of  presents for the girls
A failed attempt at a splash park
Meeting my cousin's fiance for the first time

Road Trip
We made great time.
Grace conquered the Chick Fil A playground
Picked up our loaner car for the next 6 months (yes, we are rocking a Buick Le Sabre. And no, I am not 70 years old.)
Arrived at my parents house!

Nashville, Tennessee
Sophia met her grandparents for the first time
Wagon rides
Started Couch to 5k
Picked fresh vegetables from my parents garden
Nashville Science Center
Got our first double stroller

We move into our (temporary) new home tomorrow. It will be nice to unpack our suitcases for the first time in almost a month.

*Sigh* And that is it. I think that just about catches us up. There are alot more stories to tell but this is going to have to do!

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Catching Up...Again

Moving Out, Moving In, Moving On

I really don't know where to start. I can hardly believe that it has only been 7 days since we arrived in the USA. It seems like we have been here for weeks.

It also seems like we had never left, but I am not sure of how that is possible.

I'll be brief and give as much of a synopsis as possible....

Saturday, June 29th, the movers arrived to pack up our house. I took Grace over to a friend's house for the morning and by the time I got back to our house it seemed like the movers were moving really fast and that they would finish in just an hour or two. Sophia and I visited with a neighbor one more time and I picked Grace up at noon and Ian texted to say that it was going to be awhile, so I literally drove in circles so that Grace and Sophia could have a nap (no cribs to sleep in anymore! and we couldn't check in to the hotel until 3.)

They woke up at 2 and we went to a mall to walk around for awhile and headed back to the house at 4 to pick up Ian. The movers were still working away so Grace ran around our empty house yelling "Where'd you go couch? Where'd you go bed?" or accusingly proclaiming "HEY!" and pointing at the movers like they did something wrong. Fun times.

We finally left the house at 6 pm and checked into our hotel and crashed at 8. Grace slept in a big girl bed for the first time ever and she LOVED it. Sunday we mainly ran errands, swam in the pool a couple of times, and took naps at the hotel.

Monday came and I could hardly believe it. It was the day I had been waiting for for months! Travel day. We swam in the morning while Ian was trying to get some of our accounts closed up and tied up some loose strings. The girls had their nap and then we checked out of the hotel and went to our friends house. Honestly, that afternoon was a blur. Before I knew it, it was dinner and bath time for the kids and they were in bed before 7:30. Our friends had set up pack n plays in their room and the girls slept while we took a nap in the guest bedroom.

Our alarms went off at 10:30 pm and I took a quick shower before we got the girls up, loaded the car, and headed to the airport at 11.

Everything went well at check in. We got all of our baggage (5 suitcases, 2 carry ons, 1 diaper bag, 1 pack n play, 2 car seats, and our stroller,) through security and then got checked in at the ticket counter. We headed through with just our carry on things (2 carry ons, 1 diaper bag, Grace's car seat,) with Grace sitting in the stroller and Sophia in our Boba carrier. We got a snack at McDonald's and by the time Ian and I took turns going to the bathroom and changing the Sophia's diaper and taking Grace to the bathroom it was time to board the plane.

Just like that, the gate opened and people with small children were asked to board. We weren't using the bulkhead seats or bassinet and we got to our four seats pretty quickly. Ian was able to install Grace's car seat without a worry (no one even asked if it was airline approved,) and we all buckled up and took off pretty quickly after that. Sophia fell asleep while we were taxiing out and slept in my arms for the first hour or so, and then after that took another hour nap or so. The first flight was 6 hours from Abu Dhabi to Frankfurt, Germany.

When we landed in Germany we were tired! We walked to the right terminal and then got more McDonald's (real pork breakfast sandwiches! much better than turkey sausage!) and then spent an hour at one of the airport's playgrounds. We then set up at one of the gates. Sophia took a bottle and then fell asleep in the stroller while Grace was set up on two chairs with a pillow, blanket, and her pacis. We used our carry on luggage to provide a wall of sorts around her to make her feel secure. I sprawled out on some chairs with a pillow too (I would highly suggest anyone traveling with babies to bring their own pillows!) but couldn't fall asleep. Ian finally took a nap and Grace slept for 3 straight hours on those chairs!

Finally we woke up, got some lunch, and could check in at our gate, 7 hours after landing. Whew. We boarded our next plane with a sense of doom. We knew Sophia was over exhausted but there was nothing we could do about it. Grace watched an endless stream of Mickey Mouse between cat naps and Sophia cried off and on throughout the next 9 hours of flight. At one point I cried silent tears because I was just so exhausted and my baby was so tired.

Just being real with you.

I also think the German family who watched our whole debacle had a new sense of appreciation for their teenage kids.

If you can avoid flying with a 6-12 month old for a long distance (5 plus hours,) that is really the best thing. They just don't understand why they are being cooped up and they are too little for upright car seats and there is no where for them to roll around. It's just a hard age.

Finally. FINALLY we approached Orlando, Florida, and got ourselves cleaned up and made a half hearted attempt at eating some food. When we landed, we went through customs, claimed all of our baggage, then went through immigration and had to send our luggage on to the regular baggage claim area.

We road the tram to the main terminal (I love Orlando International Airport. It's just great!) and when we came around the bend I saw my father in law, brother in law, and his wife waiting for us. We gave hugs and introduced them to the girls and then this loud yelling noise and running bodies came straight at us! It was my best friends, Courtney, Jessica, and Katie, who were at another area waiting with my mother in law and brother in law. My mother in law had gotten a text saying we were there and my friends took off running and screaming through the airport. HA! I don't think I'll ever forget that.

We re claimed our luggage and headed to the car. We said our goodbyes to my friends and then the family went out to dinner. One car had to return to the airport because we had forgotten the pack-n-play but we had a nice dinner at Logan's Roadhouse and went home and slept.

Actually, I remember very little from the restaurant as I was entirely overwhelmed and overstimulated by the sights and sounds!

I couldn't even eat, ha.

I wish I had kept a better account of the last couple of days but to the best of my memory, our week was like this:

Wednesday- slept until our normal time and got up and got showered. Headed to Target with my mother in law while Ian went on errands with his Dad.
Thursday- Celebrated the 4th of July with the family! Went swimming, smoked ribs, and hung out as a family.
Friday- saw my girlfriends and had Chick-Fil-A for the first time. Made another trip to Target and did some clothes shopping. That night we left the girls with his parents and went out with his brothers and sister-in law and her family to dinner and a movie (saw Bring The Heat- hilarious but dripping with profanities.)
Saturday- stayed home? This day is a bit of a blur. I think we went to lunch with his family at Sonny's barbecue
Sunday- beach day with the family! It was gorgeous and we had a great time. We got home, put the girls down, and Ian's dad and I went to see The Lone Ranger- I loved it!
Monday- Had an early morning with Grace, walked to the park, went for a swim, all before noon. My friend Katie came to hang out for a little and then Ian and I went out on errands late that evening.

Our days have been jam packed and we have been spoiled by friends and family but we are loving just having family and friends around! What a treat! And I am so shocked by how green everything is and how NOT hot it is here!

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Moving Out, Moving In, Moving On

It's Almost Time!!

In less than 24 hours we will head to the airport!

That's all I have to say, really.

More of a status update than a blog post, I suppose.

Our move went seamlessly. Took much longer than we thought and I had to literally drive circles around Abu Dhabi so the girls would sleep, but we all survived.

We had our first of two nights in a hotel and Grace slept in a big girl bed for the first time, no problems!

Except when her head got wedged off the edge of the bed, but oh well.

And Sophia? She turned 9 months old yesterday, went swimming for the first time today, and is sleeping like a champ in our hotel shower. (please tell me we aren't the only ones who put our pack n play in weird places like this?)

Now, we just wait until tomorrow night, at 10 pm, when we head to the airport. And yes, we are flying the red eye with a toddler and an infant. Awesomeness.

We will survive though and the next time I will be writing will be from the States! Amazing!

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It's Almost Time!!

The Value of a Dollar

One week from today we get on an airplane to head back to the States. One week!

The movers come in 5 days! (we are not returning to this house when we get back so our things have to go into storage.)

In fact, yesterday the movers dropped off a pile of boxes and tape for any "personal goods," that we wanted to pack up ourselves. And I was totally not going to pack a single thing, besides my suitcases. I really wanted to keep things as normal as possible for the girls in our house. Keep toys and books out, everything on the wall, their rooms the same, etc. But I suppose losing a few days of normalcy is better than having a stressed out Momma come the end of the week, right?

I have move induced insomnia and have been waking up at 2 or 3 am all week. Awesome.

As a side note, in the five years of our marriage, Ian has never, ever had one night of sleep issues. Lucky. I don't think he understands having your mind whirling a hundred miles per minute in the middle of the night. Sweet man, he'll rub my back though in the middle of the night, conscious or not.

So. In my sleep deprived state of mind I got to thinking. Mainly I was looking through the Target ad online, like I do every week. I was marveling at how cheap everything was (cereal! goldfish! meat! clothes!!) and started thinking about how I no longer have a real concept of how far a dollar will get me in the States. It's been over 3 years of living on a foreign currency and I just have forgotten some of the basics.

So, if you have time, would you mind answering some of these questions based on a family of 4 with two small kids?

• How much do you spend on a weekly grocery bill, without coupons?

• How much do you spend on a Target or Wal-Mart run?

• How much does it cost to fill up a car? And how often do you have to fill up?

• How often do you eat out? And how much is your average bill at a sit down restaurant? 

• Produce is really cheap here, is it the same in the States?

• Any other cost that surprises you on a weekly/monthly basis?

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The Value of a Dollar

Five on Friday

It's just one of those weeks.

And also, I'm having a bit of insomnia (hello, 4 AM.)

So I thought I would join in on the randomness.

{1.} Seven years ago this week I started work at a summer camp outside of Philadelphia. Kind of a random place for a Florida girl to go and work, but it happened. You see, 8 years ago I got pretty sick and the doctors couldn't figure out exactly what was wrong. I eventually had trouble standing, walking, and, at the worst of it, had trouble gripping a pencil. So, in the midst of the whole "not knowing if I was going to live or not" thing, I wrote my bucket list. And, apparently, one of the things I had to do before I died was lifeguard at a summer camp.

So, when I started to get better, I decided that there was no time like the present to get started on my bucket list. So, I got a job at a summer camp.

Well, it turned out to be a Jewish summer camp.

And I didn't know that.

So. Wtapping up. Southern Baptist girl spends 8+ weeks away from home for the first time lifeguarding at a Jewish sleepaway camp in the Poconos.

Shabbat services and all.

It was a wonderful experience (met alot of neat people from all over the world)

and it was a horrible experience (saw the depravity of the world for the first time. In a summer camp. Yes, I know the irony in that.)

And also, I got a ridiculous tan.

 Point in case.

All of that to say, that my little 5th and 6th grade girls that were in my cabin graduated this year. From high school. And are going to college. I feel so old.

{2.} Let's continue our walk down memory lane for a moment, shall we?

Ian and I celebrated our 5th anniversary last week.

It's been a crazy, fun, adventure filled 5 years.

5 years, 4 countries, 6 homes, and 2 children later and I really wouldn't change any of it.

We were talking about how we've changed and what the biggest difference we see in ourselves might be. Probably the biggest thing is just the maturity that comes with age and experience. We feel older, more steady. Slower to speak, quicker to think.

I've always been  told that I was an old soul, but now I feel like one, ha!

Ian and I were able to slip away for a night and some friends of ours watched the girls overnight. It was the first time I've left them except when I left Grace to have Sophia! We just haven't had someone to watch the girls or we would have done it much sooner and much more often. We had a snack at one of the hotel restaurants, took in the beautiful view, and had a late dinner at a romantic Moroccan restaurant.

{3.} The girls are changing so much and so quickly!

Grace has shocked me by just growing so much with her language development. Just last week she said new words completely out of the blue- vacuum, counter, taco, and Tinker Bell. I mean, what the heck? How and where did she pick those words up? I mean, I never vacuum. ha. She also is really improving in her Fine Motor control. She has shown more interest in coloring and isn't just doing random scribbles in big lines, she is actually trying to color on or in shapes and such.

She's very tall and often gets mistaken for being 3 or even a young 4! Her 2 year old molars are popping through and since she's running a fever, we've been having alot more paci and snuggles on the couch.

Sophia, well, she's crawling now. And pulling up. And outgrown her baby bath. My baby! She can clap and wave and she loves any and all food.

{4.} Speaking of girls...I really dropped the ball on Father's Day this year. I had taken these pictures and meant to order cards for our dads and have them printed in a frame for Ian to have on his desk but I just never got around to it. My husband, dad, and father-in-law are just wonderful, Godly men, who are great fathers! I am so grateful for them!

{5.} We have just a week left in our house and just 10 days until we step foot on the plane! I am ready to go. Right now! It's at that awkward place that if I pack now, we'll be in transition too long, living out of suitcases while still in our house. But I have nothing but time so I really want to do something. Kind of like de-nesting. So I've taken to trying to sell some of our least favorite furniture or things online. Though I'm not willing to let things go if it is going to be a complete financial loss, so, no luck so far. Hopefully we can make some spending money before we head to the (expensive) US!

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Five on Friday

What I Am Nervous About...

You know you are really nervous/anxious about something when you can barely get yourself to put it into words. For several days now I have sat at my computer, staring at a blank screen as I have struggled to explain all of my worries about traveling to the States for the first time in 3 years.

The things that excite me? I can pound out a list in less than 5 minutes.

The things that scare me? Those are the things that keep me awake at night but the words don't come during the day.

I'll try my best to keep the list short.

My biggest fear pertains to our travel.

And I have no problem talking about it, because I ask anyone and everyone for advice. I've read dozens of articles and blog posts on how to travel with a baby and toddler.

No offense though, but a post on how to fly with your toddler when you are looking at a 1-4 hour flight within one country is nothing to my itinerary of a 7 hour flight, 7 hour layover, and a 9+ hour flight.

With a toddler (who really isn't my big worry,) and a crawling 9 month old (who totally is my worry.)

And our first flight leaves at 1 am.
As in, in the middle of the night.
As in, you have already been up for an entire day when you have to check into the airport.

I lie awake at night wondering if we should find a convertible up right car seat for Sophia to sit in. Or how I can get her to sleep on my chest/in my arms when she never has done that. Or if she will fall out/crawl out of the bassinet if we choose to use it. Or about how I am going to entertain the two of them in an airport for 7 hours when they are extremely sleep deprived. Or about how Grace's carseat may not fit in the airplane seat but I just KNOW she will do so great if we can use it on the plane.

Luckily, this fear will just have to be dealt with and will be over and done with (plus or minus a little emotional scarring,) in just 24 hours of traveling.

My other major anxiety has to do with change.

So much has changed in the last three years.

My family has changed. They've aged. They've married. They have changed jobs and moved. They have experienced things that I have no connection with.

I've had family members pass away while overseas and some have fallen ill or terminally ill. I haven't been able to grieve with them or for them.

My friends have changed. They aren't the college aged girls that I grew up with. They have experienced pain and anguish, joy and happiness, and I wasn't around for any of it.

Their relationships with each other has altered and drifted during the last 3 years and though I know of some of the differences, it will probably hit me like a ton of bricks when I see how it first hand.

Places have changed. Things have changed (do I know how to pump my own gas? How much does gas cost anyway?)

And most of all, I have changed. I've lived for 3 years overseas. When we first left the USA we were newlyweds, fresh out of grad school, who had been living with our parents for half a year just to get by.

We aren't the same. I've lived overseas, learned a new language, lived in 3 countries, and 3 homes. I've had 2 babies and have just celebrated my 5th wedding anniversary.

All while being away from "home." Whatever that means.

So, while the good outweighs the bad, the nagging doubts and insecurities are there and very real. I know they are going to be things I have to deal with over our 6 months that we are in the States, but I hope that others have patience with me as I grieve over change that I didn't expect and rejoice over change that is worthy of praise.

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What I Am Nervous About...