HB - “Mommy. Why?
Me - “Why what honey?”
HB - “Why?”
Me - “Why what sweetie.”
HB - “WHY?”
Me - “I don’t understand. WHY WHAT HONEY?”
HB - “Because mommy that’s why.”

2 year olds think they know it all!

I think I’m recovering from jet lag. I can not seem to lag myself into my old schedule. May be that’s the point. May be I need to start a new kind of schedule.
I’ve been rethinking this since I’ve arrived. May be it’s time to move into a new direction and change my mind around. What I mean by that is that every day before vacation I woke up in a flurry and was angry from the moment my eyes opened. I was angry because there was not enough time in the day. I was angry because I had so much responsibility and not enough get up and go to always do exactly what was needed.
So I started this morning. I woke up my normal grumpy self and after disbuting with my daughter about what she would wear to school today I stopped. I stopped in my tracks and thought about what I was trying to avoid. I was trying to avoid this type of behavior. I immediately turned to her and apologized. I then took a moment to gain my thoughts by myself. I thought about all of the positives I have in my life. I thought about all of the love around me. There’s still not enough time in the day BUT with what little time there is, why not use it to encourage my children, encourage a friend, be an unexpected angel to someone that needs help…etc. I started focusing on someone other than me and my little cluster around me.
I feel different today. I feel like this could be the start of something positive and wonderful. I hope so. First thing I did was ask a friend to breakfast and then take her 4 year old home with me becuase she has a 6 month old that is cutting teeth and hasn’t had any sleep and the baby was actually sleeping. The 4 year old and Huly Boy are having a marvelous time. It’s been no skin off my nose and helpful to her. Why did I have such a crummy attitude about things like this before.
I have time. I have time to stop and smell the roses. I have the time to put away everything and encourage a friend. I have time to spend quality time without wishing I could live underwater where the little voices would not ask me another question or ask me why.
Do something for someone else this next week. May be just one small thing. Don’t wait to do something big. Today is the day. This is the moment.

Finland was lovely this last weekend. We enjoyed playing in the snow for hours on end. We also enjoyed the sauna.
If you remember my trip last year you’ll remember that I made fun of my hubby for going to the sauna with other men and watching football naked on the couch with everyone. This time he didn’t let me down.
We all decided to sauna. The men went first. Finland sister and I were upstairs talking away when we heard screaming and yelling of our husbands. About 10 minutes later they both came upstairs bragging that my hubby had done a naked dive into the snow and then flipped over and did a snow angel. MY SHY AND CONSERVATIVE HUSBAND????? OH MY.
So to not be outdone when it was the ladies turn we followed in suit. I must admit I have never felt so exhilirated in all of my life. The tingling sensation was intense. Thank heavens it’s perfectly acceptable to be outdoors in the buff!!! (especially in the mountains when there’s no one around!)
We adopted a theme for this trip. This has been the naked trip. Between naked art and naked snow angels it’s been a lot of naked!
We have had a wonderful time. We head home tomorrow. It makes me a little sad but I am anxious to see my family and friends again.
See you in the states tomorrow night!

Before you take your child to an art museum one should preview. Lesson learned today.
We decided to go to an art museum and the science museum. It was interesting to say the least. We walked into the museum of Antoine Wiertz. He was a famous Belgian artist.
We went through the museum and the paintings were quite beautiful for someone that appreciates art. For a child of seven though…it was just naked people everywhere! She started counting the amount of naked people as my face got redder and redder. There were paintings of mothers and babies, death, hell and heaven, the struggle between right and wrong. After we got to where the naked count was 40 I decided enough Romanticism painting. We decided to go to the Science Museum.
On our way to the Museum we stopped in at the EU info center. They were so helpful and gave the kids a lot of books (in English) to read. Most of the books dealt with environment and what government meant. They were quite interesting.
The Science Museum was great fun. Everything was written in French and Dutch but there was so much to do. We ran around touching everything and enjoying the new bug and rock exhibit.
So all in all it was a great day. I’ve seen enough nakedness to last my life. All in all…it was a great day.

5. It’s like magic that HB decides not to use to toilet and use his pull up while in the elevator up to the top of the tower.
4. They don’t allow strollers at the top so hefting a two year old and a diaper bag is like carrying a load of bricks.
3. To cover ones nose because of HB’s accident in the stuck elevator.
2. To give out as a diversion while the elevator is stuck between the 1st and second floor for 10 minutes. Freebies! Great diversion for a panic attack
1. To help with the wet pants when the elevator is bouncing rather violently between the 1st and second floor of the Eiffel Tower.
In all of their years they haven’t had a cable release but I was convinced it was going to happen. We were stuck for 10 minutes between floors. We were in the front row looking way down at the bottom on the leg. I was terrified. It took me a while to calm down after we got to the second level. I would not even go out on the ledge. I was too shakey and it was hailing outside, so who wants that??!!
HH’s sister kept telling me that everything was ok but panic had set in and the whole reality of the situation set in. I kept wondering how I was going to throw HG from her front row standing to the back. HH was with HB in the back row and I was regretting the decision to be with HG.
When the elevator started bouncing I was beyond myself. HH’s sister kept laughing and saying it was fine. I WAS NOT CONVINCED. I wasn’t the only one screaming.
Anyway all in all it was eventful yet lovely. After the hail stopped and the sun came out we were able to sight see.
Off to Antwerp tonight. The city that is the city of diamonds and they still aren’t cheap!!

This weekend we went to Paris. Hula Hubby’s sister (actually foreign exchange student) lives there so we went to go see her family. We had a fantastic time.
The first night we were there they had dinner planned with some friends. So we had dinner with strangers that didn’t speak much English, BUT it was incredible. Even though we did not speak the same language we were able to communicate and laugh and drink! As we drank our French got better and their English was totally understood. Amazing how that happens. We spent the night laughing at how we were rude and did not bring enough wine! Thankfully Paris Sister and the friend’s wife spoke English. I think it’s wonderful considering that she hasn’t spoken it in over 10 years it was truly amazing.
The children played so good. I was proud as punch. HG played with their daughter. They couldn’t speak a lick of anything to each other but childhood alone makes up for the communication barrier. HB just ran around having a blast!
We had dinner at 8:00 and it lasted until 1 in the morning. We had starters and then champagne, then main course, followed by cheese and wine, home made crepes were next on the menu, leisurly followed by coffee. DIVINE! The next night we attended a birthday party. Nothing like being at a party of French speaking people and not knowing french. No one spoke to us except for Paris Sister. I attempted a little French right and left but felt very odd, but the kids had a blast. Dinner was fantastic. Another 5 hour hum dinger. These French people know how to party!! WOO HOO!
A little later on today I’ll write about the Eiffel Tower. It was an interesting experience. So…for now I’ll sign off and send love to all.

I do not have internet access all of the time. So I am trying to write when I can. So please bare with me until I get home!
Last night HH had reservations at the local pub for the Super Bowl. I was excited until I found out that kick off was at 12:30 a.m. YIPES!!!
I had had a particularly rough day with the children. Hula Boy has been on his two year old behavior. It’s been fun. Hula Girl wants my undivided attention. I just wanted to have a few minutes to myself. HH came home from work and knew that I needed a few moments. So he sent me down to the pub. I sat with my cup of coffee among a few hundred strangers.
I called HH to tell him that I would be home in a few minutes because it was almost kick off time. He told me to stay. Stay???Was he ill? This was the Super Bowl! He then told me to stay for the evening so that I could have a while with adult conversation. So I did. It went until 4:30 in the morning.
I had a difficult time getting up in the morning BUT it was so worth it. A little adult conversation and a few cups of coffee made my whole evening/morning.
It must be love because there’s no other excuse for the kind of sacrifice that he made! So no picking daisies petal wondering if he loves me or loves me not. He loves me. There’s no question about it!

We arrived safe and sound in Brussels. It was quite the grand adventure.
I thought that being on a plane with a 2 year old would be hell. I was wrong. Being on a plane with a 2 year old that has a double ear infection is HELL.
Yes Mr. Mac kept saying that his ears were “tooting”. Well if your ears are tooting that can not be good. Amber was gracious enough to tell me the name of her doctor and off we went to find her in Duisburg.
We got on a metro that took us across town. Then we grabbed a taxi to the tune of 45 Euro. I must have a sign on my head that says…”Stupid lady will pay big bucks to go anywhere!” I swear. When I came the first time the taxi driver from the airport charged me 60 Euro to get to the hotel!
The doctor was very sweet. She took one look at his ears and knew that he was in serious pain. She did not want to prescribe antibiodics. They do things a little different here. They generally do a nose spray to help the inflamation. I told her that I was leaving for Germany tomorrow and was a little apprehensive to not have anything just in case and she gladly gave me antibiodics.
I went to the apacrathy to get the medications. Because I did not have a card they did not want me to take them. I explained that I was American and did not have a card. So I ended up paying for the medications and all is well.
Amber was gracious enough to drive me back to the apartment after the day was over. Everyone was tired and in need of rest. Tomorrow we head to Germany. Should be interesting!