I am way behind on posting from my parents visit. We did so much in those 10 days that I think I have still been catching my breath! Here are some pictures from their time here.

they made it!

by our river

Old Towne Bern

Luzern..including next few

fondue night

Jackson’s Birthday

Montreax

Gurten

Rosengarten

We had a packed 10 days! We couldn’t seem to kick the clouds and rain but we made the most of it!

It’s Friday and I couldn’t be happier that it is. School starts next week and I am craving new routine. But before the new routine sets in we are heading to Ramstein base this weekend to do our huge stock up trip. We were supposed to go in June or July but I just could not muster up the strength. We normally go to Heidelburg and do a marathon 14 hour day but this time we are going up Sat morning and coming home Sunday afternoon. We will stay at Ramstein and hopefully enjoy a few American meals and maybe have a chance to take Jackson bowling or to a movie.  I’m thankful for the time with my boys.  Starting on the 22nd of August we will have solid visitors or one of us traveling until the end of September. Although this trip requires 4 months of meal planning and a roadtrip with 2 tots I am hopeful it will still be some much needed family time and a mini R&R.

It’s been a heavy week at our house. My grandfather passed away, we have been making some big decisions regarding bidding, tough news from the US, missing my bestie living in Germany so I can talk to her in my timezone and just general emotional burnout from it all.

BUT we are plugging along and enjoying the simple things.

The boys and I kept busy this week with playdates and meeting people at the pool. Our pool is more of a park/pool mix. It is a huge grassy area with a park and a bunch of different pools at different play levels. They also have a huge sandpit and a cage with bunnies so when the kids tire of the pool we just bounce around to the other areas and burn off all of that summer energy. Everyone rides home quiet and satisfied.

The other uber exciting thing from our week was the “fill a bag for 6 swiss francs!” In a country where almost nothing seems to cost CHF6  this was a bargain!! The grocery store runs a sale a couple of times a week where they have a spread of a variety of produce and you can fill a bag as full as possible for one price. Yesterday it was eggplant, a variety of peppers, zucchini, and tomatoes. I PACKED that sucker. When I checked out a pepper fell out if the top. The check out lady gave me that “are you serious lady?” look and I think my look back said something like “well, yes, yes I am, now ring it up sister”.  I see ratatouille in our future!!

We are preparing for another wave of guests! My little brother and his wife are coming in two weeks. A couple of days after they leave I will leave to go home for my grandfathers memorial service. And I will return back from the US in time to greet our friends the Angermiller’s and their boys!!  We head to the commissary next weekend to prepare.

We are looking forward to Jackson going to preschool 2 mornings a week starting in the Fall (week after next) and maybe a Mommy and Me swim class for Owen and I with friends one morning while Jackson is in school! That mixed in with playdates, trips to the park and lots of guests coming in and out is setting us up for a busy Fall!

That’s about it from here. I hope that no matter what you are going through you can find some joy in the simple things today!

My parents have come and gone. It’s always tough to say goodbye. But it is so nice knowing that we will be home for Christmas this year! I have tons of pictures to post but I bet it is going to take me a little time to get myself organized and motivated for a big post of pics!

The weather forecast is looking up so hopefully next week will be a week of summer!  I am looking forward to a few more “pack the pj’s and come back at bedtime” pool nights. Hope all of you are enjoying summer in your neck of the woods! Speaking of neck of the woods, starting early next week Seth and I will be doing our own new search for which neck of the woods we will be relocated to. Pray for guidance and wisdom!! Just to sum up the process we will get a LONG list, narrow it down and submit bids. Then we will WAIT and WAIT until around Thanksgiving.

Here are some weekly pics to leave you with!

park bliss

busy bees

he may be smaller but he has his way of thwarting Jackson’s plans!

burning off some extra energy…this was before the wipe out!

first tomato from the big plants! My dad counted 62 more on their way!! I see lots of homemade salsa and pasta sauce in our future! And tomato pie of course!

fried green tomatoes

Have a great weekend!