Half a Year

A lot can happen in six months. 

As we returned to Luxembourg from Utah earlier this month, I realized how much we had figured out, overcome, conquered, and adapted to in Luxembourg. With major government and health registrations out of the way, doctor and pediatrician phone numbers programmed into my phone, grocery store hours memorized, and an official Luxembourg driver's license in our possession, our return felt like a game-changer.

The hypervigilance I felt for a long time about how to feed my family, how to get my family medical help, how to call someone, how to navigate social situations, and how to keep everyone entertained until our shipment arrived are long forgotten. I feel more relaxed. I feel more confident. And I feel more at home. 

I'm totally over the naked lady pictures on every bathroom fixture delivery vehicle. The thunder of airplanes passing over our house every few minutes doesn't make me stop in my tracks. I don't panic when Aksel walks up and down the stairs by himself. And I don't feel annoyed by going to the grocery store every 2-3 days; I look forward to it and the chance to try new bread and chocolate. I don't feel so embarrassed by the fact that I'm a weird American that can only speak one language and can't seem to master French, German, and Luxembourgish while taking care of three small children. I don't feel nervous in our basement or when Ben is gone late at night. I can make complete meals. 

I knew things were different (read: better), when I found myself putting a first aid kit in the car, stocking water in our storage room, or looking for a gymnastics class for Otto and Aksel. I realized I was finally out of survival mode and was looking for ways to improve our quality of life, plan for the future, and be more prepared for come what may.

I wish there was a way to remember everything like: the pink wall paper on our first floor, the giant clumps of moss that fall from the roof and litter our back deck and sidewalk, the sound of our neighbors scooting chairs out from underneath their tables, the aroma of the Ariel detergent, or the taste of Yudri's food.

We celebrated our six-month anniversary in Luxembourg by drinking a Schweppes Agrum and eating caprese, avocados, salami, prosciutto, fresh rolls, and brie. 

Things I want to remember about the past month in Luxembourg: 

Aksel playing with water, a teacup and a kettle at our kitchen sink. 

The Packers coming over to play, eat Norwegian waffles and watch Curious George. 

Otto throwing up. 

Ben going to the White's one evening to watch Suits.

Ben and Otto going to the White's for dinner one Sunday, and watching The Lion King with Kyla. 

Seeing live swans on the Moselle River. 

Going to the Trier, Germany Christmas Market with George and Karen.

Going to the new airplane park in Cents.

Finding egg nog at Delhaize.

Making sugar cookies. 

Making pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

Riding bikes around our block and neighborhood. 

Singing Christmas songs. 

Running and singing to See Me Run.

My dad having a stroke.

Packing for our trip to Utah.

George and Karen coming for Christmas.

Karen falling out of our shower and knocking down the curtain. 

Blessings from Grandpa George. 

Flying to Utah. 

Letting Hosanna Stoke's family stay in our home while we were in the states. 

Flying back to Luxembourg. 

Getting over our jet lag. 

Taking down the Christmas tree and dragging it to the curb and then watching helplessly as the wind blew it down the street. 

Ben saying: I can feel the U.S. leaving my body.

Our neighbor, Kim, knocking on the door and telling me she backed into our car while we were away on holiday. 

Ingrid screaming and writhing around.

A quiche from the bakery.

Taking Ingrid to Dr. Dany Heyart as soon as we returned for a double ear infection. 

Otto tasting a cookie and saying: Good job not burning the cookies mommy!

Teaching Otto how to sound out words and read. 

Otto saying moien audibly and loudly on his first day back to school and blowing everyone away. 

Aksel wanting to sit in our laps all of the time. 

Ben successfully rocking Ingrid to sleep!

Otto turning into a little helper and assisting Aksel with shoes or toys and playing with Ingrid and keeping her happy. 

Having a cold for an entire month. 

Making muffins. 

Filling prescriptions. 

Otto praying for it to snow. 

Aksel being obsessed with Cinderella.

Eating the rest of Ben's Firkløver chocolate bar and the look on his face when he found out. 

Confessing to Ben and Kate my secret fear that the remaining six people of the terrorist cell responsible for the attack in Paris (who are still at large) are going to make their way to Luxembourg and hold hostage/kill me and my three babies. 

Meeting the Moshers and Packers at Zig Zag. 

Writing down activities on the popsicle sticks from the Christmas nativity and having the boys pick something to do when we were stir crazy.

Otto and Ben playing baseball in the yard.

Asking our neighbor, Andi, how their holiday in Austria was and her reply: Not so good. And tiring. We have children.

Ben loving his Jawbone UP and scanning and logging everything he eats and does. 

The employee at Zig Zag telling me that Aksel and I look a lot alike. And then telling me that he knows my husband speaks French and so he's going to do me the favor of only speaking to me in French.

Putting Otto in a booster seat so we have a little more room in the car. 

Tess and Tesśy gushing over how well Otto is doing this term. 

Aksel calling our names in the night so we will come in, hold him, and sing to him. 

Teaching Otto about matches. 

Aksel telling Ingrid to "go play" whenever he wants her to go away so he can have my attention. 

Doing patty cake/peekaboo 100 times a day with Ingrid. 

Aksel finally being willing to say a prayer. 

Ingrid giving kisses. 

I feel mostly gratitude that the first six months are behind us. They were incredibly hard. I tell most people that living in Luxembourg has held incredible highs and soul-crushing lows. And it's true. But what a ride it's been. It's not one I'll ever forget or regret.

Trip to Utah

We had a really great time going home to Utah. It was nice to take a break from our experience in Luxembourg and burst the bubble that the grass isn't always greener. Unless you ask Ben, and then he will tell you that the grass is clearly greener and better in Utah. 

We drove straight from the airport to Chick-fil-a, the food our family missed the most, and then we drove home. We all wandered around, looking at things, finding forgotten/left-behind toys, blankets, waxers, and guns. Uncle Sean and Jacob stopped by to say hello. I had a good cry. And then we put everyone to bed. Except for Ben. He had ants in his pants and went to see Stein and KJ Francom. 

We made it until 2 am, woke up, played with toys, ate breakfast and then went to sleep again at 5 am. We made it all the way to 6:30 am. 

We spent the day playing with more forgotten toys/guns, opening Christmas presents from Grandma and Grandpa, eating leftover Chick-fil-a, taking naps, and then going over to Uncle Joseph and Aunt Ellen's to visit Stein and eat dinner. 

The following day, we were awake and ready for 9 am church without a problem. 

Note: nothing is more rewarding than nursing and rocking a baby to sleep in a nursing lounge after having done it for six months in front of bishopric members in a foreign country. 

Aksel went to nursery without throwing up, and Otto was elated to be back and hear the hymns in English. We spent the afternoon at Becky's and the evening at the Francom's. It was like we never left. The boys rode bikes around the table, got tickled by Agnes, and we never wanted to leave again. 

On Monday, we spent the morning sledding with Rocky, watching Chuggington and visiting the Williams. We napped/recharged and then drove straight to Chick-fil-a and out to the DeWitt's. That night, Lilly and Emma came over to babysit, and we were all so happy. I've missed Lilly and Emma more than anyone else. Ben and I drove to Salt Lake and met Ryan and Katie for dinner and hot chocolate. 

On Tuesday, the kids and I drove up to Kate's to play with little Beth bird and eat lunch. Ben met Kelly Priestley for lunch and then spent the afternoon trying to fix the heat in the Dunn's expedition. That evening, Becky, Eliza and I went to the temple.

On Wednesday, we drove up to Inkom, Idaho for our annual New Year's Eve of eating, snowmobiling, sledding, game-playing, movie watching, and fire building at the Stucki's. We stopped at Macey's on the way out of town, and I went crazy. Really crazy. Buying things I didn't even need or care about but I bought them because I could. And seedless grapes. I'll never take those for granted again. 

The kids dozed on the way up, played happily all day, went sledding with Carly Rae, heartily ate Jeff's cooking and Oreos, and then we drove home. 

On Thursday, Uncle Ryan and Aunt Ekatrina drove in from Portland and they showered our kids with gifts and attention. Uncle Derek, Aunt Carly, and cousin Avery also came over and we spent the afternoon playing, reading, and eating Razzleberry Pie. 

On Friday, we loaded up the 15- passenger Warburton van and went to the Dinosaur museum. This was Aksel's most requested activity while we'd been away. He ran through it in record speed and only had one melt down when pulled away from the water/sand station. Then we dined-in at Chick-fil-a and all of Otto's dreams came true. Everyone else in Utah County also thought it would be a good idea to eat at Chick-fil-a at 12:30 pm on a Friday. I had forgotten this about Utah County - that everyone is trying to do the exact same thing thing at the exact same time at the exact same place as everyone else. Aunt Ekatrina then read Mamoko several hundred times to Otto and revealed to Aksel she had (accidentally) stolen dinosaur toys from the museum, much to his delight. I took Ingrid to the pediatrician for a double ear infection. Ben spent the evening at the Nielsens. 

On Saturday, Angie took the boys to a primary activity at the church and introduced Otto to his primary teachers (for one Sunday) and showed him how to get to his classroom from the chapel. Later, we went over to the Atkinsons and all of the boys finally got a much-needed and serious haircut. 

That evening, Lilly came over to tend our kids and Ben and I went on a date with some of Ben's siblings to Pat's BBQ in Salt Lake. Afterward, I convinced everyone to go to JCW's for milkshakes. I ordered an oreo. Then I saw Michael's mint oreo. So I ordered a mint oreo. Don't judge me. There aren't milkshakes in Luxembourg. 

On Sunday, Otto totally became unhinged during Sacrament meeting because he was so focused on finding the page number to the hymn that he forgot to sing the hymn by the time it ended. He had to be removed from the chapel. It's funny how quickly things go back to the way they were. A short 40 minutes later, Otto became a Sunbeam and my heart burst with pride, forgiving him for the meltdown. I rejoiced in the nursing lounge again. We all took monster naps that afternoon and then went to Uncle Joseph and Aunt Ellen's for cousin Halle's 8th birthday party. The boys happily played, ate cupcakes and ice-cream and Otto reveled in the presence of Uncle Jacob. 

On Monday, I spent the morning with Brooke while Ben spent the day at PWC in Salt Lake. We went on a snowy walk that afternoon with Angie and Ben took Otto to the pediatrician to get his recurrent 105 degree temperatures checked out. And then Aksel got croup. 

On Tuesday, we spent the morning sledding and playing in the snow and then went over to Uncle Gary and Aunt Vivi's, where the boys promptly melted down about having to visit another person and then ate an entire bowl of skittles and lemon heads and then fought over a fire truck. That afternoon, Grandma and Grandpa took the boys to Cabelas and Ben and Ingrid and I dropped a couple hundred dollars at Costco. We picked up Cafe Rio for dinner, Ben and I went to the temple that night, and then Ben sent me a text while I was getting ready for bed that said: heading to the Johnsons, be back in a bit. Well played, Ben. 

On Wednesday, we went to the Living Planet Aquarium, per Otto's request, and remembered why we previously had a membership. We picked up Chick-fil-a on the way home and then we took it easy the rest of the afternoon. Eliza came over that evening and Ben and I spent a few hours with Jake and Becky Jo. I was lucky enough to get a mint blizzard from Dairy Queen. Again, don't judge me.

On Thursday morning, Uncle Jacob and Brooke came over to visit and say goodbye. And then we spent the afternoon at Farm Country and Cabelas. We purchased our usual family pack of cherry slices and we happily and aimlessly walked/chased kids around. We ended up at the shooting range (like we always do) and we let the boys have as many turns as they wanted. Emma came over that evening and I drove to REI and Settebellos with glee to meet up with Kate and Lynn. Ben spent the evening with EJ. 

On Friday, I put the kids in the car and we ran errands all morning -- stopped by Becky's, went to the bank, filled up with gas, tried to buy a white noise machine at Bed, Bath & Beyond, made an appointment for Stein at PetSmart, picked up a few things at Walmart, and the grand finale of dining in at Chick-fil-a. That evening we all went to the Johnson's to hug, kiss, and congratulate Lauren for her engagement and then Bri and Ashley watched the kids while we went to dinner with Mark & Julie. When we got home, Emma came over to say goodbye and we all sobbed. Except for Ben, Otto, Aksel, and Ingrid. 

On Saturday morning, we went to say goodbye to Becky and then to Kangaroo Zoo. We came home, ate left over Chick-fil-a, and tried to take a nap, walked across the street to hug and kiss Angie, and left for the airport.

We arrived in Utah with three duffle bags and two car seats. We returned to Luxembourg with six duffle bags, two car seats, one booster seat, and a crazy crazy amount of medicine. 

Going back to Utah made me appreciate a heap of things I hadn't yet appreciated about Luxembourg. And coming back to Luxembourg made me grateful for two amazing weeks in our most favorite place on earth. Utah definitely feels like home. And Luxembourg felt a lot like home when we returned. It's definitely more comfortable and easier in Utah, and it's definitely a challenge but more of an adventure in Luxembourg. 

Sometimes Ben and I lay awake at night in disbelief in all our family/relationship has survived, endured, and found a way to thrive amidst -- an international move, multiple transatlantic flights, jet lag, french people, and much more. 

Utah, we love you. Luxembourg, we missed you.

Transatlantic Traveling

On Christmas day, Ben drove out to the Luxembourg airport and asked if they would be open later that evening so that we could check into our flight to Utah 24-hours in advance and check in our bags without the hassle of three toddlers, car seats, carry ons, etc. Those Luxembourgish Luxair employees reassured Ben this would be possible and we felt like geniuses because we didn't know how else to get a giant stroller, three car seats, five people, two carry ons, and three giant duffle bags into our car. 

Later that night, Ben drove to the airport. Twenty minutes later I got a text: I hate Luxembourg. Apparently the Luxair employees were wrong. The airport was closed. A lot of things in life are closed on Christmas. 

Luckily, Ben's parents were also flying back to Sweden the next day, so they agreed to drive some of our luggage to the airport and then drive our car back home and leave it parked in front of our house. 

The next day, we woke up at 6 am, put the boys in comfy clothes, kept Ingrid in her pajamas, and all drove to the Luxembourg Airpot. 

We bought breakfast from a bakery that the kids didn't want to eat and chatted with a Colombian colleague of Ben's who was on the same flight to Paris. 

Then we let them run around the terminal until we boarded our 40-minute flight to Paris. We gate-checked the carseats (thankfully) for this leg of the journey. 

Aksel really doesn't want to buckle the seat belts. He had a big melt down about that until we finally gave up and let him do what he wanted and tried to keep it a secret from the flight attendant. Otto chatted on about how we would be taking two planes to Utah. And Ingrid slept. Bless her. 

We whipped out the iPads and kept the boys happy until we landed in Paris. Then I strapped Ingrid in the bjørn, a bag on my shoulder and held Otto's hand while Ben carried a bag and Aksel down the stairs of the plane onto the tarmac. 

We waited for our car seats to be wheeled over and Ben handed Aksel over to my arm that wasn't holding Otto's hand. Ben strapped the carseats and his bag on like a job hog and I begged Otto to keep up. 

We walked up a few long ramps and then scurried onto a bus that took us to another terminal where we had the privilege of waiting in a really long customs line where Otto wriggled free of my hold and found his way over to the windows and fake plants where he started throwing rocks from the potted plants onto the floor. Aksel soon joined him when he realized what a fun game Otto had discovered. When it was time for the customs agent to match people with passports, we couldn't convince Aksel to come toward us. We begged. We bribed. We threatened. And then we finally left the line to go get him and to carry him back kicking and screaming. 

Once through customs, we walked up several un-moving escalators (much to the personal disappointment of Otto who demonstrated his emotions by crying and whining) and into the major terminal of the Charles De Gaulle Paris Airport. We immediately found two unoccupied push-chairs and Otto and Aksel climbed in and I struggled to push their elated bodies for seven more gates until we had the privilege of waiting in a really long line to get our boarding passes to Salt Lake City. 

It was worth the wait; Ben was upgraded to Business Class and Ingrid and I rejoiced for the extra freedom we'd have in the 11.5 hour flight ahead of us. 

We were the first to board and Ben got to work strapping down the boys' car seats. Otto knew what to do. He climbed right up and in, got buckled, hooked his headphones up to his iPad and was happy as a clam for the next half day. 

We bribed Aksel to get into his car seat. He really doesn't like being on an airplane and he really doesn't like getting buckled into his car seat. He cried on and off for the duration of the flight. And broke out in hives. And refused to eat. 

Ben sat between the boys one curtain and three rows behind Ingrid and I comfortably sitting in Business Class. 

Having the extra room to let Ingrid toddle around, the pillows and blankets and lie-flat bed for when Ingrid did sleep, really made a difference. But nothing can really prepare you for watching the flight tracker slowly count down for 12 hours. 

We sang, we walked, we changed poopy diapers, we ate snacks, we rocked babies, we watched Frozen, Daniel Tiger, Curious George, and How to Train Your Dragon multiple times, we felt exhausted, and we almost enjoyed the free meals until they were kicked and knocked over by our sweet children. 

Just as we began our descent into Salt Lake, Ingrid began projectile vomitting down my shirt, down my lap, down my pants, and into my Sam Edelman shoes. The fight attendants kept sprinkling coffee grinds to keep the smell down, and I stripped Ingrid's pajamas off and into the trash. I put on her spare clothes and then she barfed again. I may have cried at this point. 

The plane landed and Ben and I felt like champions. Smelly champions, but champions. 

We found the nearest restroom, changed diapers, freshened up, and made our way through customs and to collect our luggage. 

I don't think the worst behavior by any child, or the longest line, or the most delayed luggage could have dampened our spirits. We were surprised to be pick-upped by Eliza and Lilly Evans and we happily and quickly drove to Chick-fil-a. 

Then we all started to unravel a bit. We were exhausted, hungry and drained; it had been a long 16 hours and then Ben announced that the days  we have spent flying across the Atlantic Ocean with children are in his top 10 hardest days ever. I whole heartedly agreed. And we've done some hard crap. 

Fourteen days later we walked back into the Salt Lake Airport, bought hamburgers, fries, and a strawberry milkshake and tried not to feel really overwhelmed by what was about to happen. We boarded and Ben and I got busy setting up car seats, strategically placing water bottles, snacks, gum, head phones, diapers and wipes. Ben, Otto, and Aksel sat in the row behind me and Ingrid. I stashed away pillows and blankets for later that night and we settled in for the transatlantic flight. 

We took off at 5 pm. Somehow the little munchkins stayed awake until nearly 11 pm. That's 6 hours. That's a long time. That's like two churches. In a row. 

I hooked Ingrid up and nursed her to sleep. A few minutes later, Ingrid started vomiting. Oh boy. This time, a flight attendant was kind enough to lend me a shirt while I washed mine in the small sink, stuffed it with Delta pillows and draped it across Ingrid's empty seat with the air on high so it would hopefully be dry by the time we landed and I could return the shirt. It was. But it still smelled. Not a big deal. Not compared to getting through the Paris airport after being awake for 24 hours with a sick baby, exhausted children, and a two-hour layover. 

We de-planed, rallied Otto and Aksel through the terminal, through customs, through monster fits in a store over a car and a motorcycle, tried to convince Aksel he couldn't lay in the middle of the walkway, said hello, again, to the Colombian colleague of Ben's, back through another terminal, onto a tarmac, and onto our last plane. 

Aksel melted down again about having to get buckled and this time I didn't even bother trying to buckle him or trying to hide it from the flight attendant. Otto was a dream. Ingrid was an 11-month old baby. 

I was a little worried Aksel would get knocked around, but he was too busy playing and trying not to cry about everything that he didn't notice the turbulence. And then we landed in Luxembourg.

Five of our seven bags (including a car seat) didn't arrive. Aksel kept climbing onto the luggage claim conveyor belt and going nuclear every time we pulled him off. Ingrid was crying and wanted out of the bjørn. And Otto thought everything was hilarious. 

We waited for a LONG time in a LONG line to get our missing bags and car seat registered and hopefully delivered to us. 

Otto and Aksel ran around like crazy, banged metal things, cried, fought, tried to get on escalators, and then our ride finally arrived. 

Yudri Rodriguez drove our sad, weary bodies home and then came back 20 minutes later with lamb chops, salad, bread, and rice. 

We put everyone to bed and a short three hours later, my alarm went off, and the task of getting our family back onto Luxembourg time has waiting. We forced ourselves to get up, wake up our children, eat dinner, take baths and pretend like it was just another normal evening in Luxembourg.  

Until next time, avions.

*I always kick myself for not taking any/better/non-crappy photos of our journey. I'm so focused on surviving, it usually doesn't occur to me.