Skip to main content

Wrapping it Up and Winding it Down

Today was busy busy busy! We had to run a few errands with Tristan and Brennan in tow right after we dropped Noah off at school to prep for our trips. Josh is on his way to Barcelona right now to pick up his car at the port. Right after I dropped him off at the airport (aka the MAZE), rush hour traffic was beginning to trickle onto the Madrid highways... and driving in Madrid is AWFUL!!! Now add that I basically haven't driven since we got here because I have no vehicle while Josh is at work. Plus the Garmin doesn't speak fast enough. The road systems out here aren't labeled. The drivers are like a constant PMS or steroid-pumped nightmare. Josh says it's like someone took LA, Chicago, and the worst parts of San Antonio and smashed it all together. Since I've only been to SA out of those cities I can only assume he's correct. The point is... I took a few wrong turns. Not many and not enough to put us way out of the way, but enough to make me yell at people for not treating my obvious confusion with compassion (by letting me over). I mean... it's OBVIOUS we're not Spanish residents. We drive a blue Honda yacht around and we have a big yellow diplomatic license plate that doesn't even fit on our American spec vehicle. Gimme a break!! I have my turn signal on!! I see you don't use yours but COME ON!!!! sigh. That's it in a nutshell. We finally got home at around 6:40. I got the kids out of the car, partially fed Brennan, bathed the big brothers, bathed Brennan, and then read to everyone while I finished feeding Brennan. So even though we started bedtime at 7 (30 minutes earlier than usual) we somehow managed to actually be in bed 30 minutes later than usual. I am tired. There are dishes to be done, but I don't give one iota.

Tomorrow we get to wake up bright and early, eat breakfast, and take the short walk to the bus stop at 7:40 (and again at 4:40 for pick-up... full day Kinder out here). I'm relieved I don't have to drive out there again. I am going to limit my driving to quiet times and back roads. I hate driving, but I hate being trapped at home even more. I am really excited about being able to have so much more one-on-one time with Tristan and Brennan. I haven't worked with Tris nearly as much as I did with Noah. Noah sucks up all my time and energy usually. He's just soooooo... I don't even know the words to describe him. He just never stops... anything... talking, moving, making weird noises, asking for things, touching people, teasing... all at once from the time he wakes up until he falls asleep. Already today Tristan was a lot less whiney and wanted to walk more instead of ride in the cart or be carried. I think Noah drains him too. He did miss him though because he gave him tons of big hugs once we got home. Noah was different too. I think a majority of his bad behavior was due to frustration from being stuck in the house with babies that he always has to play down to and help. He was much more mellow when he got home from school. I thought something was wrong, but he was just... calm. Happy and calm. I didn't have to correct him or repeat myself even once :O That's a HUGE accomplishment. Oh and he did have time to finish all his lunch... everything but the cookie, which he ate when he got home as a reward for saving it for last like he was told. He's such a good boy :) The rest of his school adventure I will let him talk about because he had me laughing. Things to know before you watch: He told Daddy about the orange face himself as soon as he got in the van. The orange face is this :| instead of this :) but not quite this :( ... got it? Good ;)

I did manage to get the interview and I think it's pretty funny. Tristan was being a butt-head in the background... as per usual. It's uploading now. Look for it on the sidebar. Now if you'll excuse me I am going to watch "Forrest Gump" in my lonely bed all alone and lonely and be a lonely loner all alone... by myself. Maybe I should make the most of it and watch something ridiculously girly like "Ever After" or "Miss Congeniality" or "Family Stone"... no Family Stone would make me cry too much... especially with our recent family events. I would like to get some sleep tonight, but it seems like as soon as my head hits the pillow a button gets pressed and I have to start thinking about everything stressful, sad, difficult, and generally frustrating going on in my life. Maybe I should try the other side. Maybe the other side is where the puppies and kittens button is located.

Comments

Michelle said…
Jacob has watched Noah's video 10 times now. LOL The first thing that he said was, "hey NOW I know Tristan! He's funny in the back and he wants gum." Then he decided that when he comes home from school tomorrow he is going to make a video for NOAH to watch about his day at school. I'm thrilled with that whole idea because it will inspire him to have a better day at school. heehee

Popular posts from this blog

Hurricane Sandy

This will be a gleefully uneventful post, but I thought I should at least inform everyone of our whereabouts during Frankenstorm. On Friday the landfall predictions were further south, which had the eye passing near our tiny town after obliterating Dover, DE.  We happen to be surrounded by water.  The Patuxent River on one side, Chesapeake Bay on the other, plenty of swamps and creeks in between.  Not a good prospect. Josh and I had gone out that night to try and secure supplies and already, there were no batteries or flashlights.  We also don't have a grill and thought "we'll try Lowe's tomorrow"I mean, most people already own grills... right?  Everything in our house is run on electricity (including the water pump for the well) except for the fireplace.  I don't know what builders are thinking when they do that.  I at least want a gas stove and water heater!  So, anyways.  We got a few hours of sleep before trying to brave the crowds...

Hiking on the Guadarrama Trail

As promised yesterday, I actually left the house and went on a hike with Mama C and Goober!  YAY! I was a bad Mommy and ill prepared to shield us from the hot Spanish sun so we all have a touch of sunburn.  Whoops.  It was fun though.  OK so here's where we began our journey.  You can see the bridge between the roundabout and the little house with a red roof (which is a restaurant).  All the cylindrical buildings were a plant nursery.  We walked over the bridge and past the nursery where we crossed the street and then started up the dirt path.  The other little building is literally a Gypsy Keep. Here's what it looked like from the road... and it was so ridiculously creepy, yet fascinating.  I don't know why there is always tons of junk in trees around gypsy places.  There was a gutted van in the backyard, a stroller jammed into a wall, shorts in the trees.  We both wanted to trespass, but the kids would have inevitably fal...

Germany

Noah and I are having a great time out in Germany with Josh. The house we're sharing is amazing and the people are also amazing. The only thing we don't have is our own kitchen, but like I said, the people who live here (Josh's friends) are amazing so it's not even an issue. I've been cooking for everyone to try to thank them in some way. We haven't been to many places yet. It's hard to go anywhere with a baby who has a naptime and a husband who has a job. However!! We managed to make it out to Heidelberg to see the castle. It was awesome. the walk up to the castle mmmm castle Heidelberg down below Christmas is huge here. They've even got Christmas markets out in the parking lot in front of WalMart. We've been to Luisenplatz a few times in downtown Darmstadt to visit all the Christmas shops they have set up. It's like a Christmas flea market. Thus far all I've blown money on is candy... mmmm German candy is so delicious. It's...