Wednesday, May 16, 2012

It was an early morning trek to the MAX and then to the airport for an 8:20am flight to St. Louis.  My younger brother's younger daughter is graduating from WashU.  We got in around 5:30pm and headed straight to the hotel after getting our car.  The Crowne Plaza is a very nice hotel.

 We connected with my Jamie (my younger brother), Pam and Linda (the graduate).  Walked up the street to a very nice Italian restaurant, Cafe Napoli.  You can't really tell by this picture but the wine menu was an ipad.  WOW .  Very classy place.  Had a delicious New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc.  I had the Medallions Bordelaise.  YUMMMY.

 This is the Nova Scotia Salmon

Linda in her apartment.  She is on the 3rd floor.  Her apartment building has a lot of personality.  She will miss it when she heads off to Washington, DC. Very nice evening.

Tuesday and Wednesday

Tristan is quite the Frisbee thrower.

Tuesday was kind of a "work" day.  Laura spent a lot of time trying to pack for their trip.  We were all flying out Wednesday morning.  So Jeanne and I tried to keep Tristan, Liam and Emmet occupied.  Jeanne and I still fit in our morning walk but the rest of the day we were on duty.  We did get Tristan to the park for a little while.  Laura made a delicious tomato soup from scratch for dinner.  They got Tristan to bed early since the next day would be an early rising time.  I had a 6am flight and they all had a 7am flight to Sacramento for Ben's (Jeanne's son) 30th birthday celebration.  I wish I had taken a picture of all the stuff.  3 car seats, various suitcases and backpacks ... Jeanne and I went to the airport by taxi at 4:30am.  She took one of the big suitcases with her to check in.  I headed off to my gate and she waited at the entrance for Laura and the 3 kids and the rest of their stuff.  Wilhelm dropped her off.  He will join them on Thursday.  It was a complicated trip but they made it safe and sound.  I also made it home safe and sound. I am tired but I had a very good time.  I hope that I was a help.

I think Liam and Emmet are pretty identical.  But I guess they only way to know for sure is to do a genetic test which is expensive so they are not doing that.  Liam has a little spot on his left ear.  So we all were looking at the ears before we would know who we were holding. Tristan calls them both Me-am.  Tristan was learning a lot of new words.  Fun to watch the language development.

Stay tuned - in a week I will be off to St Louis for a college graduation of my niece.

Monday, May 7 later

It took us a while to get moving today.  But after a lunch feeding.  Laura, Jeanne, Emmet and Liam went to do some shopping at the mall.  Tristan stayed with his dad.  Went to a couple of stores and then it was time for the next feeding.  So we went home.  Laura decided that she needed to take Liam to see the doctor about a possible eye infection. Jeanne and I took Tristan and Emmet to the playground.  Emmet was content to sleep on a  blanket on the ground.  Enjoyed the fresh air. Tristan love the playground.  He did not want to leave.

 

 They wanted to go to the store.

 We had bratwurst for dinner.  A food picture for you all. :-)

Time for bed.  At least it is time for me to go to bed.

Monday, May 7

Yesterday we all went to church.  Wilhelm was still at the bicycle racing weekend.  It is a work weekend for him.  After church they had an all church Spring Cleaning Event and potluck.  I had Tristan duty while Laura, Rebecca and Jeanne cleaned.  Liam and Emmet slept.  The potluck was good - as usual.  It was pouring when we left.  I was drenched by the time I got to the car. Liam and Emmet took turns being upset all afternoon.  We left Laura with them to take Rebecca to the airport.  Tristan came with us.  Just as we got home we got a call from Rebecca. Flights were being canceled right and left.  Her flight was delayed and she would miss her connection.  It took them a while to finally book her on something else. So Jeanne and I drove back to the airport - with Tristan to go get Rebecca.  We had had dinner while she was arranging flights.  Laura made a delicious Leek and Ham soup.  I will have to get the recipe from her for that.  When Rebecca got back she had some of the soup as well.  Strawberries and ice cream hit the spot afterwards.  Wilhelm finally got home about 10pm .  He showed us a picture someone took of Tristan doing a wheelie at the bike racing event.  They have times that people can ride who are not racing and a time for kids to try.  Tristan has a cool bike that he rides.  His feet reach the ground.  In Germany they do not believe in training wheels but have these bikes instead.

This morning at Oh-Dark-Thirty I drove Rebecca to the airport.  I know she got on the plane here.  Hopefully she will make it home ok.  It has messed up a lot of things for her.  She had to call work and tell them that she would not be in.  She had to change her nursing program to sometime in the fall instead. That was the most disappointing thing.  You are not allowed to miss the first class - no exceptions. The real disappointing thing is that if she had gone ahead and gotten on her original flight she would have made it home ok because her connecting flight had also been delayed. Hindsight!!

Saturday, May 5

It has been a quiet day today.  Every morning Jeanne and I go for a walk before everyone wakes up.  We get showered and are usually at the table when Tristan wakes up.  He comes down to join us.  Later Laura comes down with the twins. We get to hold them while she gets her breakfast.  I can't keep track of Wilhelm's schedule.  Sometimes he is out of here early - off to work and sometimes not.  Today he went early to a race.  After lunch Laura took off with Tristan to join Wilhelm at the race.  She left Liam and Emmet with Jeanne and me.  We did one feeding.  Then when they were sleeping Jeanne went to take a nap.  Rebecca had gone out.  As you can see the twins did not make me work very hard.  No rain today. Laura hopes to be home in time for the next feeding.  We shall see.  Not a lot of pictures today.

Friday, May 4

 dueling pacifiers

 Fun at the park.

 The bedtime ritual.

Tristan is practicing with his doll.
No rain today.  A couple of trips to the park.  I made my African Chicken Soup for supper.  Rebecca made brownies.

A bouquet of dandelions.

 Flowers in the back yard

 Liam and Emmet like to snuggle.

 Tristan likes the homemade bread and jam that Wilhelm makes.

Tristan is a big help.

 Rebecca is handling them both.

 We did fit in one walk - in between rain showers.  Tristan likes his bike.

Laura & Wilhelm's home.  It is a very nice neighborhood.  I am getting my "baby fix".  It is exhausting.....even with 5 adults and 3 kids.  I am having a great time.