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.
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 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.
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.
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