Home on the Rainy Range
I can't believe my sister beat me with a new post! I don't have any good excuses for not posting either. There have certainly been some post-worthy events in the last couple of weeks.
Where to start...how about a big WELCOME to Peder and Sarah's new baby, Aurelia Ryan, who was born on August 23rd, weighing 8 lbs. 15 oz. and (I believe) 21" long. She was just a few days past her due date! We stopped by their home yesterday and got to meet Aurelia and introduce her cousins to her. She is truly lovely. Josiah and Annika were a little more interested in Sarah's neat toys (and everything spillable, caustic or lanolin on the coffee table), but don't worry guys--by the next time they meet, they'll be playing together!
Next, we got our real orders last Friday, so the Germany thing is a go. Well, of course, life in the Navy is subject to change, but that hasn't happened to us yet (knock on wood). We depart Newport in November to arrive in Stuttgart by December 31. What does that mean for us? Not a whole lot. Our lease in this house is up at the end of October and we've more or less decided that we'll ship all of our furniture over to Germany at that time and either live in a hotel or try to find a furnished house to rent here in Newport. In a town of summer rentals, it shouldn't be hard to do. We are very excited about this major change. Hans has already spoken to someone in Stuttgart that he'll be working with, which is nice--we have a point of contact for all of those questions.
Speaking of my darling husband...my birthday was the 18th. He got me a cake on the evening of the 14th so that we could celebrate together before the kids and I left for Minnesota. Then when I got home, my mom informed me on Thursday afternoon that I had a surprise the next day: a four-hour treatment at the Aveda salon in Mankato! I had a facial, full-body massage and a Vichy shower (google it, don't ask me to explain it). Wow, was that ever sweet! I also got a very nice "Star Wars" themed cake from the bakery in St. James, which was excellent. Everyone should get to have Schmidt's Bakery marble cake for their birthdays. My actual birthDAY (Saturday) was extremely wet and depressing. We weren't able to go to the Threshing Bee at all, which was the focal point and purpose of our coming home. Oh well.
We were at Mom and Dad's for 10 days. I wonder if they're enjoying the peace and quiet now that we've gone?! Gen and Sam were able to stay for a few of those days. We made a visit out to see Mom and Dad's fantastic new trailer and admire the Kuehl homestead (aka Eli and Lindsey's house). It rained pretty much the entire time we were there, seriously. The new joke in the Kuehl household is that next time there's a drought, call Rachel. I bring my own storm cell with me. I feel like Eeyore.
I wasn't going to blog about the flights at all. Remember all the worrying I did about being thrown off the plane due to Josiah's behavior? Well, Josiah was awesome. He was super-helpful and followed along behind me like my shadow. He took his shoes off at security without screaming. All in all, he was so good that today...he got ALL of his trains back. Annika was a bit of a handful, though. She just doesn't enjoy being restrained. She made noise all the way from Minneapolis to Cincinnati, albeit it wasn't all pissed-off noise, but still...noise. HOW I enjoy all the hostile stares from people! LOVE it.
On the flight last night from Cincinnati to Boston, we were lucky enough to be seated in the kid zone AND have the most wonderful, amazing, patient and kind African lady seated next to us. She was traveling solo, but had a two-year-old at home. Annika promptly fell asleep, but Josiah kept dropping toys and stuff on the floor, and this wonderful woman kept picking things up and talking to him. There were also a little girl Joe's age in the row in front of us who conversed with him the whole time and shared toys with him. We all had a lot of fun in rows 40 and 41 of that flight...and afterwards, Josiah and his new girlfriend chased each other through the deserted airport to the baggage claim.
Now we're home and recovering. One of my plants is dead, but Futo the goldfish is still alive and Hans didn't starve or anything, so I guess everything's OK.
Where to start...how about a big WELCOME to Peder and Sarah's new baby, Aurelia Ryan, who was born on August 23rd, weighing 8 lbs. 15 oz. and (I believe) 21" long. She was just a few days past her due date! We stopped by their home yesterday and got to meet Aurelia and introduce her cousins to her. She is truly lovely. Josiah and Annika were a little more interested in Sarah's neat toys (and everything spillable, caustic or lanolin on the coffee table), but don't worry guys--by the next time they meet, they'll be playing together!
Next, we got our real orders last Friday, so the Germany thing is a go. Well, of course, life in the Navy is subject to change, but that hasn't happened to us yet (knock on wood). We depart Newport in November to arrive in Stuttgart by December 31. What does that mean for us? Not a whole lot. Our lease in this house is up at the end of October and we've more or less decided that we'll ship all of our furniture over to Germany at that time and either live in a hotel or try to find a furnished house to rent here in Newport. In a town of summer rentals, it shouldn't be hard to do. We are very excited about this major change. Hans has already spoken to someone in Stuttgart that he'll be working with, which is nice--we have a point of contact for all of those questions.
Speaking of my darling husband...my birthday was the 18th. He got me a cake on the evening of the 14th so that we could celebrate together before the kids and I left for Minnesota. Then when I got home, my mom informed me on Thursday afternoon that I had a surprise the next day: a four-hour treatment at the Aveda salon in Mankato! I had a facial, full-body massage and a Vichy shower (google it, don't ask me to explain it). Wow, was that ever sweet! I also got a very nice "Star Wars" themed cake from the bakery in St. James, which was excellent. Everyone should get to have Schmidt's Bakery marble cake for their birthdays. My actual birthDAY (Saturday) was extremely wet and depressing. We weren't able to go to the Threshing Bee at all, which was the focal point and purpose of our coming home. Oh well.
We were at Mom and Dad's for 10 days. I wonder if they're enjoying the peace and quiet now that we've gone?! Gen and Sam were able to stay for a few of those days. We made a visit out to see Mom and Dad's fantastic new trailer and admire the Kuehl homestead (aka Eli and Lindsey's house). It rained pretty much the entire time we were there, seriously. The new joke in the Kuehl household is that next time there's a drought, call Rachel. I bring my own storm cell with me. I feel like Eeyore.
I wasn't going to blog about the flights at all. Remember all the worrying I did about being thrown off the plane due to Josiah's behavior? Well, Josiah was awesome. He was super-helpful and followed along behind me like my shadow. He took his shoes off at security without screaming. All in all, he was so good that today...he got ALL of his trains back. Annika was a bit of a handful, though. She just doesn't enjoy being restrained. She made noise all the way from Minneapolis to Cincinnati, albeit it wasn't all pissed-off noise, but still...noise. HOW I enjoy all the hostile stares from people! LOVE it.
On the flight last night from Cincinnati to Boston, we were lucky enough to be seated in the kid zone AND have the most wonderful, amazing, patient and kind African lady seated next to us. She was traveling solo, but had a two-year-old at home. Annika promptly fell asleep, but Josiah kept dropping toys and stuff on the floor, and this wonderful woman kept picking things up and talking to him. There were also a little girl Joe's age in the row in front of us who conversed with him the whole time and shared toys with him. We all had a lot of fun in rows 40 and 41 of that flight...and afterwards, Josiah and his new girlfriend chased each other through the deserted airport to the baggage claim.
Now we're home and recovering. One of my plants is dead, but Futo the goldfish is still alive and Hans didn't starve or anything, so I guess everything's OK.
Comments
Rachie, I feel compelled to buy you a giant Eeyore sweatshirt.
Best of luck in Germany, and the trip to Vermont and upstate NY looked GREAT! Best way to discipline kids I've seen in a while... *chuckling*