Day 315: Date Night!

This morning only Caleb woke up when he was supposed to. Daniel and I kept hitting the snooze button and refused to be bothered. However, we came around and got up and got Maddie dressed for school. Caleb made his way downstairs and fixed his lunch and got his breakfast ready. 

We had a long day at work. Daniel had training fun with the other Marines and I went to a medical appointment with a friend. 

I came home early and prepared dinner for the kids and got ready. Daniel and I then left for date night. It's something we had put off for a while, but we had a great time!! 

Ms. Anna with Maddie. 

Dinner was amazing and it was at this fun  restaurant. All of the food dishes are paired with a particular type of vodka, so we enjoyed sampling each other's food and drink. It was delicious overall and we had such a great time! 

When we got home the kids were already in bed and resting for the night. We put a few things away and tidied up, and then went to bed. Hopefully we can rest tonight and wake up a little better in the morning. 

Day 314: Monday, Again.

This morning Daniel had to leave to go to work early and the kids and I snuggled in a little longer than we should have.  Caleb overslept a little bit and Maddie didn't want to get up.  I slept in longer than I should have, but showered and got myself and Maddie ready while Caleb took care of his stuff.  He got away with taking an easy lunch so he didn't have to worry about too much this morning besides eating breakfast.

At work I stayed busy making travel plans for a few people and getting payroll stuff filed away, and of course more busy political stuff.  It's never ending in that office.  Daniel had medical training this morning at the Marine house and loved telling me all about it.  It was actually interesting to hear about and it gave me a chance to freshen up on what I had once learned.

I've also been stressed with buying Christmas and figuring all of that out for everyone.  We have to ship presents by November 15th in order for them to arrive to post on time, so I'm trying to get the big ones out of the way so I can breathe a little.  This deadline also means I have to mail out packages very soon in order for them to get to where they need to go on time.  Hopefully, I can buy what I need to this weekend and ship everything next week.  I hate planning all of this out in November, but at least that part will be over come December!

The kids had great days at school.  Caleb managed to lose his French workbook, so once he finds that he'll have quite a bit of French homework to tackle.  Caleb is also working on a fun project in Art and he was excited to tell us about that process.  Maddie continues to play well with her peers, but she doesn't like going in when outside time is over.

Once Daniel and I got home, I prepared dinner and Caleb helped me set the table.  We enjoyed some chicken and broccoli and before we knew it, it was bedtime.  The kids and I got our showers out of the way, and then I laid down and read a story with Maddie.  She still adores her princesses, so that's what we read.  Daniel tucked Caleb in and then took his own shower. 

Since there is a lot going on and Daniel has been nonstop, he made his way back into work for the evening.  He needed to work on a few more things, but he's definitely had a long day.

Overall, Monday wasn't too bad!

Day 313: Prepping, Resting, and Researching

This morning Daniel woke up with Maddie and let me sleep in a little longer.  I only lasted about 30 minutes longer, and got up to relieve Daniel so he could rest.  When I made it downstairs, he was asleep on the couch and the kids were playing quietly.  Maddie would randomly go up and throw something on Daniel, but overall, he was able to rest for a few hours.

Caleb raked some leaves this afternoon and was the only one who went outside at all.  It's a shame, too, because the sun was out, but I wasn't feeling it.  Maddie loved playing with her toys, dolls, and anything else she could get her hands on.

My neck and back have been hurting a little bit, so I spent a lot of the day resting.  The kids played well together and we got a lot of the laundry, dishes, and cooking done for the week.  We decided to order pizza for dinner because we hadn't had it in a while.  It was as good as I had remembered, but not as great as I had hoped.

We also did a lot of research on what may be in our future as far as posts go.  We Googled a lot of different things, but ultimately you can't believe all things you see/read on the internet.  Hopefully we'll get everything squared away soon and we'll know where our next adventure will be.

We also talked to Rhonda and Kim for a little bit.  We caught up with how their week had been.  In Florida it was warm enough to go to the beach and swim in the pool.  Meanwhile in Warsaw, it's been in the 30s with wind, and chilly!  We've been bundled up and trying to stay warm.  I'd love to see the beach right about now!  We'll definitely visit the beach once we're able to visit the U.S.

We had a great day and we're looking forward to a great and busy week.  We have a lot to prepare for, but nothing too crazy to do.

Day 312: Happy 240th Birthday, Marines

This morning we woke up and began getting ready for the day we had ahead.  I took a shower and did my hair while Daniel was here.  He had to leave around noon to begin getting ready for his big night, so I took advantage of the time before he left.  The Marines have been working hard on this event for quite some time, so I was excited to see it finally come together.

I put Maddie down for a nap and then put my makeup on and tried on three different dresses once more so I could be sure the one I had decided to wear was the right choice.  I then put on jeans and finished getting ready and getting all of my accessories together.

Once Anna arrived, I left the kids and went to my friend's house.  She needed a curling iron and hairspray, so I was to the rescue (I usually don't have hairspray, so I was proud I had it on hand).  I decided to go ahead and get into my dress at her house and we helped each other out with opinions of what to wear and not wear.  I loved this, because last year I had to wing it alone, and as any girl knows, it's so much more fun getting dressed with someone else.

I left her house and departed for another friend's house.  When I arrived she was still getting ready and I made a few last minute touchups to my makeup.  Once her date arrived, we drank some champagne, toasted to the night, admired her patio, and then made our way to the hotel where the ball was being hosted.

Once we arrived, we checked our coats and bags and I found my Marine in the receiving line.  I said hello (as did he) and I gave all of the Marines a hug as I was greeted.  I then found my way around the room to say hello to various friends.  It was so nice seeing everyone all dressed up.  We have such a good group of friends here - I'm definitely going to miss it when we leave!

We eventually made our way to our tables and the ceremony began.  The birthday message was played, and then Daniel was up on the stage along with the narrator.  I didn't get to spend much time with him, but that was expected.  I ate dinner, took pictures with the Marines, and then made my way to the dance floor to the 70s, 80s, and 90s music.  We had so much fun dancing.  I haven't done that in so long and I needed it.  Before I knew it, it was well after midnight and time to find my way home.

(Photo of a photo!)

The ball ended at 1am so I left a little before to relieve the sitter, and Daniel stayed so he could clean up after the ceremony.  He got home around 2:30, and we watched the LSU and Alabama game for about 10 minutes before giving up.  We didn't have a dog in the fight, so we didn't stay up for it.  By 3am we made our way to bed!

We had such a great night and it was so much fun hanging out with our State Department friends celebrating the Marines who guard our post.  Happy 240th birthday, Marines!  Semper Fi!!

Day 311: It's Friday, It's Friday

We made it to Friday, woo hoo!  Nothing spectacular happened today, but we all woke up on time and in great moods.  Daniel and I got the kids off to school and then made our way into work.  It's been busy overall for us both, but we're taking it all in stride.

I left during lunch to have my hair done.  I will be doing my hair myself for the ball tomorrow, so I needed a fresh color and cut.  I was able to knock that out, come back to work for a bit, and then leave so Daniel could take Caleb to the dentist.

Caleb's day at school went well.  The American school played the British school in soccer and all of the kids were present and wearing red to support them.  The kids seemed to really enjoy it!  Caleb's dental appointment went well and he made it through without getting in too much trouble from his dentist.  She tightened his retainer and explained to Daniel how it would need to go every 7 days.  Hopefully, his retainer can go sooner than later (hopefully before we leave).

After work, Maddie and I went to a friend's house and I looked at a few extra dresses she had ordered.  After trying on numerous styles, I decided I liked a particular black dress and needed it for the ball.  While I tried on gowns, Maddie and her girls played with dolls and toys.  They were so sweet together.  Maddie has really come a long way (coming out of her shell), and it's nice to see it with people who she doesn't get to see very often.

I left with my gown and went home to watch a little tv and relax.  I love Friday night because 1) it's the weekend and 2) I have a few shows that come on and I get to watch them without worrying about staying up late.  Thankfully, Daniel and the kids don't mind too much and I get a little peace without too much crazy.

We have a lot going on this weekend, but we're excited nonetheless!

Day 307 - 310: Getting Back to Normal

This week (Monday through Thursday) we spent the time trying to recover from our previous vacation, but also catch back up on normal routines.  We had to get our sleeping back on track, as well as our chores.  Rhonda and Kim flew out first thing Monday morning and the kids, especially Caleb, was upset to see them go.  I truly think FaceTime has worked wonders, as Maddie picked up with them as soon as they got here, and again when they got back home.

Caleb did great at getting to school and keeping everything together.  He began swimming this week, so he'll be doing lessons for the next two months during his PE class.  He seems to enjoy it so far and hasn't said much else about it.  On Tuesday Caleb realized he had lost his retainer, so I called and cancelled his dental appointment, and thankfully he found it on Thursday.  Well, someone found it and turned it into the office, and his teacher kindly told me one had been turned in once I emailed him about it missing.  I'm glad it's back and hopefully that will be the last scare for a while.  

Maddie has done very well, but has been fussy in the mornings.  She'll wake up and immediately demand cereal.  She is so funny and has such a large personality.  She is a mess and constantly has us laughing at something.  She loves pulling down on her face, looking at you and saying, "Look at my face."  She then laughs and waits on you to do it back to her.  She adjusted well going back to school and had no problems going right back to her teachers.

Daniel and I focused on the things we needed to catch up on with work.  Daniel is hosting the Marine Corps Birthday Ball this weekend, so he's been crazy busy with getting all of that in order and making sure everything is how it should be at the hotel and with the guests who are coming.  He also has a training event coming up along with an inspection, so we'll be quite busy in November.

We prepared our lunches and dinners for the week on Monday since we had all of the chicken we cooked up on Halloween still available.  We were able to create healthy side dishes to go along with it all.  Our bodies had to detox for the ball and have a few days with very few carbs!

This week was challenging in multiple ways, but overall everything went well and we got back on track quite nicely.

Day 306: Wilanow Palace and Packing Up

This morning we slept in as late as we could.  This was the last day for Kim and Rhonda, so we tried to make the most of it.  We enjoyed breakfast and then decided to make our way outside to one more location before they departed.

We began All Saints Day, by walking through Wilanow Palace. The weather was perfect.  We walked the grounds and took in all of the yellow leaves and enjoyed the fall air.  The leaves were falling around us and the water was so peaceful.  It is one of our favorite parks and it's definitely one of the most beautiful.  

We didn't get there until a little after lunchtime, so Maddie was very particular about certain things, especially when the camera came out.  For instance, I let her bring her pink bag from the car because she wanted it, and when I began to take pictures, she refused to let go of it.  Even without a nap though, she was great overall.

As I attempted photos of the kids, Maddie and Caleb posed, made faces, and threw leaves at one another.  They did a great job, and loved/hated the process.  I took some great photos, but I will have to post them later as they are on my camera, and I still have to make room on my computer for those photos.

Overall, this day was great.  We made it by the gas station on the way home and left with a hotdog for everyone.  Daniel and I then helped pack away pottery into carry on bags and also packed and weighed suitcases for the trip.  We are pros at packing and getting items in where they need to be, so this was both fun and easy for us.

We finished our night by playing cards.  We also talked about how crazy the last week or so had been with all of the traveling we did.  It was definitely a whirlwind, but one of the best trips we have taken!

Day 305: Happy Halloween

This Halloween morning Rhonda and I woke up and did a little more pottery shopping while the men and children stayed at home.  We were hosting the Marines later that evening, so we needed to be back by mid afternoon to get the food put together and the house in order.

Rhonda and I went to Impreja and looked at all of the different patterns of pottery along with all of the furniture and folk art pieces.  This place is special because there is always something different!  This place also has one of my favorite patterns, so it's one of my favorite places to go when I have time.

After Impreja we left and went to one more store.  Here, we found a few more things we couldn't live without and made our final pottery purchases of their visit.  We made our way to the grocery store next, and then made our way to the house.

When we got there we threw the final things together and got the kids dressed into their costumes.  Maddie chose to go as Snow White and Caleb went as a Headless Boy.  This was the first time Rhonda and Kim had ever trick or treated with us, so it was fun having family walk around and see the surrounding neighborhoods, especially in a country that doesn't celebrate Halloween. 

At the end of the night, we made our way back home and hung out with the only couple who showed up.  The others didn't care to come, but we enjoyed hanging out with smiley and his girlfriend.  They handed out candy as we walked the kids around, so they loved that, too.  We turned the football game on and began watching the GA vs. FL game.  This was a terrible night of football for GA and soon it faded into the background as we played cards.

We had a great time overall and really enjoyed having Nana and Poppy with us.  

Day 304: Fall in Warsaw

Daniel and I had originally taken this day off to take the family to Kraków, but they decided to see more of Warsaw since Kim hadn't seen as much. 

Daniel went in to work for a few hours and the rest of us met him for lunch. We found our way down to a popular burger place and afterwards we made our way to the tomb of the unknown soldier. This park is one of my favorites here in Warsaw. The yellow trees were perfect in color and the weather was sunny and in the 50s. Perfection! 

After this stop we made our way to Lazienki Park and visited Chopin and then made our way over to the water palace. 

I cannot get over how perfect the weather was. This was the best fall day for sure! 

We walked through all of this beauty and then made our way back to the house. I left with Rhonda and Kim to go pottery shopping and Daniel got Maddie from school and met Caleb off the bus. I found a new pattern shopping, so I was very happy! 

Caleb had fun dressing up as a nerd for school. He got to wear glasses and suspenders so he was as happy as a pig in mud! 

After pottery shopping we enjoyed a delicious Polish dinner consisting of: pierogis, potato pancakes, meat, soup, and bread! It was delicious and we had a great time. 

A live band started as we were finishing up, so we listened to the music and watched the kids dance. I would post a picture from dinner but whoever took it didn't share it with me. ;) 

We spent the rest of the evening playing cards and talking. It was great! 

Day 300-303: Recovering from Italy

After our fun adventure to Italy, we were all beat! We got back to Warsaw that evening and I had a lot to do to get ready for work the next day. I got a few groceries, unpacked some suitcases, and collapsed. 

Tuesday morning came too fast. Rhonda and Kim were able to sleep in, but the kids had to get up and get ready for school while Daniel and I prepared for work. Fun times! 

Work was great overall but it's always hard getting back into the swing of things when you're coming off a vacation. During this Tuesday through Thursday timeframe, we knocked out our office chores and housework. Thankfully, Rhonda washed our clothes from the trip and Kim cooked dinner. Each night we were able to come home to both things being done which was fabulous! 

Kim and Rhonda enjoyed a walking tour of Old Town on Thursday and really got to take in the city themselves. On Wednesday, we introduced them to our favorite German restaurant. We got to share our favorite drink and meal from there and it was fantastic. I love schnitzel!

The kids adjusted well. They got right back in the swing of things with no problems at all. It was great!  We have truly been blessed with such great kids who have adapted to being excellent travelers. 

We played cards one of these nights and enjoyed each other's company. The days are limited at this point so we're trying to take in as much as possible! 

Also, Italy was great if you didn't get that from my posts. If you're going to Rome, I have the best recommendations for you! 

Maddie helped us prepare treat bags Wednesday night for both hers and Caleb's class. She may have taken a whole bag for herself. 

My Thursday morning walk to work. Cold and beautiful.