Savouring – The Snuggles, The Food, The Family Time

09/26/21

Lake and I had church from the couch on this specific Sunday.

He slept in until 10:30 and was back down for a large nap only an hour and a half later, after only having laid on the floor, or me, during his awake time between. Refusing any food or drink, aside from coffee 🤪

I can’t lie and say I didn’t actually sort of like the snuggles and calmness 🙈
It truly was the first time in his first year of life (aside from the baby days when he didn’t really have any say 🤪) that he willingly clung to me, and wanted to continue doing so 💗

The rest of the family that had attended church, returned with lunch from another Greek restaurant that we had on our ‘to eat’ list 😉

We decided that it did have the better meat compared to the first Greek restaurant we’d went to.
Looks aside 🤪 Why does it seem like some of the tastiest foods, look the least appealing?
So, if you’re ever in the area, make a point to go to ‘Grill Am Bahnhof’ and order Gyros, you can thank us later.

Lake stayed asleep until after lunch, which is always a nice treat 🙈 Once he awoke and seen the kids, he really perked up and seemed to be doing better ☺️

We went for a little visit to some family/friends from church later that afternoon and then popped in to say hello to some more family after that 😅 Mike has no shortage of family, friends and friends like family and so on and so forth, so if we ever had ‘spare’ time, it wasn’t hard to fill 🤪

Originally we’d planned to go back to John and Inge’s that evening, but after learning they’d both be working, we figured we’d might as well stay another night at the sisters, if she’d have us 😉

Once the children were all in bed, we were treated to an evening spread of veggies, sausages and bread with a feta/tomato dip 👌🏼

Untimely Unwellness

09/25/21

Saturday morning began with a family breakfast ☺️🍞🥐🧀🥓

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Afterwords, Mike went to the barber, Tim, our nephew going with for some guy time 😎 They returned with churros 🤪

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During their time away, Lake was entertained by aunty and uncle, and I got to relax.

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Writing and being served coffee 😉

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Judith and I went for a 6 km walk, knowing the rest of our day probably wouldn’t hold much movement, as we were headed to a garden party 🤓

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Walking a new route with a new companion (no offence to my regulars 😉) surely makes the walk go by quicker 😅

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Lake had been fading in the health category for a couple of days, but it was really showing up this day.

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Snuggling with us after his nap instead of jumping up and wanting to be taken out of the room to play, and then slowly becoming more and more clingy as the day went on.
By the time we got to the garden party, he only wanted to be held and didn’t want to play, or eat anything aside from watermelon. All out of the ordinary for him 🤪

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We partook of all the food items available, enjoying the variety of goodies 😉

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We eventually took Lake for a walk in the covered wagon supplied by our hosts, to try to get him to sleep. It worked… for a few minutes.

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He then just lounged in it, as he was gazed up and wheeled around…

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making it really seemed like a pretty luxury accommodation for a special occupant 🤪

Dinner was served, and we happily indulged in that as well, of course, as we’re no strangers to accepting food 😉

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After that, we took Lake inside where it was a cooler and less strenuous for our arms, as we could sit on a big comfy couch with him.  Mike went back out to mingle after Lake settled a bit, and I stayed until he fell asleep… and then I actually fell asleep for 20 minutes too 😅

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I felt bad once I awoke, as they’d put a note in the doorway to be quiet because there was a baby sleeping…but it wasn’t just a baby 🙈

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The guys went to play a game of soccer late that evening, after the party ended. So Lake and I were taken home to go to bed. 
He threw up before bed, and the poor little guy was very warm and having a hard time getting comfortable. 
Making for a pretty restless night, with many wakings due to his cough and phlegm, causing many paci losses and hasty replacements 🤪😞

It was a little disappointing that the day Lake had his first real bought of ‘cuddle inducing, don’t put me down, and comfort me’ sickness happened during a day that held beautiful weather and multiple people I know a bit better than some, and could have really visited with, but that’s life 😉

 

The Sunday Rhythm

09/19/21

An early Sunday morning greeted us.

Once again, preparing of myself, the son, the diaper bag etc. took way, and then we joined the family for breakfast. 
Adorning the table before us, were baskets holding different varieties of breads, various spreads, sprinkles and butter, cheeses, meats, juice and coffee.
A classic Dutch breakfast 😉🥐🥖🧀🥨☕️

It was a one-hour drive to church, which we experienced in the company of our hosts, as we rode together with them since we’d be returning to their house again afterwards.

We then rode back with another couple (Mikes cousin and his wife), since they’d be headed back to the house sooner and that’s always a plus where taking care of Lake is concerned, and when my having to mingle with fewer people is concerned as well 🙈

Some McDonald’s was grabbed on the drive back and for the most part, we discussed food. Which when you write that maybe it sounds a little sad, but it seems to always be a satisfying topic if the people you’re with, are like-minded food consumers 🤪

We got to tour some of their newly renovated home and loved what we saw.

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Black kitchen cabinets, high ceilings with beams for added texture and some really unique, window style room dividers which gave the space some boundaries, while also keeping it feeling open.

They live right beside the home we stayed at, so we eventually crossed the yard and relocated over there for the meal of Dutch snacks that had been picked up.

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Our evening was then spent visiting and playing a game.

Amidst trying to get Lake to sleep, which he wasn’t so willing to do as the night before. This time being awake enough to realize he was in a different surrounding than usual.

All in all, though we were away from our home, and our home away from home, the Sunday rhythm changes little. Arise early, prepare for church, attend, a decent chunk of driving, afternoon lazing about, eating and so on and so forth 😉

 

* I ask that you do your best to ignore any spelling mistakes, as on my iPad the set up is different, and I can’t find an easy way to do a spelling / grammar check. Thank you for your understanding 🤪

 
 

 

Dallying Through Doesburg

09/16/21

The day after he turned one, Lake truly matured in the area of sleeping. Deciding it was time to grow up, go to bed nicely, and stay that way until 9:30 for the sake of his under-rested parents 🤪👍🏻

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There were no more coffee beans in the house, so that of course had to be taken care of asap! So, Daddy and Lake hopped on the bike and went to the store to purchase some 😅

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Lake is loving his bike rides… or at least, that’s what I hear 😜👍🏻

We had a lazy morning and then went into Doesburg to do a little bit of exploration.
Walking through the streets, popping in and out of shops.

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Lake did his best to hold onto mommy’s first purchase 😂👌🏻💗

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Struggling with his chunky little hands, to maintain his grasp.

Hans is a little specialty sweet shop we went into, and though the chocolates didn’t grab my attention, something in the front display case did.
A lemon meringue tart. I couldn’t believe my luck at finding one so quickly during the trip, as usually it takes stopping at multiple shops to find one
😉

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Mike also purchased a coffee/hazelnut dessert to try.

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The style here is really beyond what I can attain, so clothes shopping in the ladies boutiques has never yielded too much 🙈

 

 

Ferry Snacks, a snack bar in town, was our ending note. The owner/sever paused in his helping Mike, looking at him before asking if he lived around here because He recognized him, but felt like it had been a long time since he’d seen him. So ensued the conversation of how yes, he was from there, and yes, it had been awhile 😜 We left with a promise to be back again before out trip was over 😉

7B6772FF-C349-41A7-A9F8-B6FD0ECF6E89The main course was nasi ballen, a frikandel and fries, then followed by ice cream with sprinkles 😉👌🏻

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Lake was introduced to the sprinkle addition and it seemed as though he enjoyed it, though it’s rare that he seems NOT to enjoy something so ya
😏
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Mike ordered and picked up ‘Kapsalon’ for supper, as his mom had worked the whole day and our plan of purchasing kibbeling (fried fish) for supper hadn’t been possible since the fish shop was closed 🙄

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Not that we didn’t want to eat kapsalon while here as well 🤓

As I’ve explained all of these dishes before, I’ll refrain from doing so again. So if you really have a question about a dish, feel free to ask in the comments 😉

* I ask that you do your best to ignore any spelling mistakes, as on my iPad the set up is different, and I can’t find an easy way to do a spelling / grammar check. Thank you for your understanding 🤪

 

This Little Piggy Went To Market…

09/12/21

 

After the late bedtime, he did sleep in until 10:30, so it wasn’t too terrible in the end 😅

Our hostess had a tasty spread of homemade bread, seasoned scrambled eggs, bacon and a sundry of other choices waiting for us ☺️

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The kids were in school until early afternoon, so not long after we’d eaten, we headed to the nearby ‘Globus ’ grocery store. 
We’d been in it before, but it’s one of the largest grocery stores around, being known for its ‘American style’  in grand size and variety. 
It truly is a big store, Canadian, American or German 🤪

Having a huge grocery selection as well as all the other superstore style sections, baby, home, etc. 
Judith needed a few things, pork for supper being one such item on the list, but we also went specifically for a container she had shown me the previous day. A nifty little base with a detachable  top compartment, which would be perfect for the yogurt & granola Mike takes every day to work. 

We took our time there, having lots to look at and prices and selection to be in awe over, once more 😉 These aisles alone, being some cheese selections…

Euros to dollars mean things aren’t quite as cheap as they first appear, but not enough so to change the fact that SO many of the groceries are insanely affordable compared to what we’ve gotten used to back home. 
Lake got himself a free wurst at the meat counter, and he as well as we, were pretty thrilled with it 😜👌🏻

 

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Once we left there, the kids were back from school and got to see Lake for a moment before it was his nap time and their homework time 😉

It was a beautiful day out and after a little sitting to enjoy it, I went and joined Lake in his nap, wanting to catch up on some of the sleep we’d been missing out on. 
When we awoke, Mike was hedge trimming, which is seriously something he really enjoys doing 😂👍🏻

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Lake was entertained and lugged around via his cousins and Aunty for the following chunk of afternoon, pre-dinner 😉

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We enjoyed a dinner of chicken, bread, oven baked rosemary potatoes, a couscous salad and pork belly.

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A cut of meat my brother-in-law had been excited to try out and we, the willing and approving recipients 👌🏻😎

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We kept Lake up late with us, trying to stretch the bedtime as long as we could, since we were up visiting anyway.

In the end, that backfired on us… big time 🥴

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* I ask that you do your best to ignore any spelling mistakes, as on my iPad the set up is different and I can’t find an easy way to do a spelling / grammar check. Thank you for your understanding 🤪

Sunday – Truly A Fun Day

 

09/12/21

How can such a small human body, take up so much space in a bed ? 🤪

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Lake continued his night in our bed after the early morning waking, resulting in feet and hands in our faces, as well as the occasional head bonking. Enough to make the rest of our sleep just ‘ok’ and his pleasant 😏

10:30/11 was the time the boys rolled out of bed, and after a morning of packing and preparation and a little play, we headed to Mikes sisters home in Germany, in timing with Lake’s nap 👍🏻

 

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We have to drive on the autobahn to get there and I’d slightly forgotten about how pleasant that can actually be… though some may not be comfortable with the speed of those who travel on the left side
😜 It was  around 3:30 when we arrived at Judith’s and the greeting committee was at the driveway watching for us to get there, opening the car door the moment it stopped to get a look at Lake 💗

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Once the aunts, uncles and cousins had also gotten a look at him, lunch awaited.

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A spread of burgers and all their toppings were prepared and we happily partook
☺️

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Lake still wasn’t playing shy/strange with anybody and so he was kept busy by the cousins and family members, all of us outside enjoying a beautiful day.

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As the meal/day had been in honour of Lake’s (early) birthday, coffee and dessert came out and presents followed not long after 😉

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Aunty Sarah made the number 1 brownie and he was not overly interested in the aspect of helping himself, just as he hadn’t been with his cake at home. Still seeming to prefer using a spoon or being fed 😜

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Aunty Judith helped him with the present opening and as always, the wrapping was more entertaining than the gifts were to him, but we the parents appreciated the items and thoughts behind them 😉💗👍🏻

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The guys went off to play soccer, Lake went down for a late nap and is sisters-in-law went for a 5km walk, while Inge stayed with the children.

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(It was nice to take a new route for a change😉🤪)

A little more visiting ensued once we returned, but with an hour or so drive to return to their houses, the others left and we stayed to spend a night or two with Judith and her family.

Lake wasn’t at all interested in going to bed until after 12:30 am.

 

 * I ask that you do your best to ignore any spelling mistakes, as on my iPad the set up is different and I can’t find an easy way to do a spelling / grammar check. Thank you for your understanding 🤪

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