17 Months

Thanksgiving day approached and with it, the familiar sadness of living in a place where nothing would seem special or feel special when you know it should be. Especially when social media is quick to tell me just how warm and magical and happy a holiday is for everyone I know. 

Determined to create a little magic of our own, I rallied a group of our American friends and set out to find a turkey. We postponed our feast from Thanksgiving Thursday (husbands were working and it was a school night for children) to Saturday, two days later. 

As luck would have it, the turkey was available for pick up on Thanksgiving Thursday -- giving Ingrid and me our own little turkey day party. Ben ordered the turkey three weeks earlier from Provençale, a restaurant supply store for which we have a membership. He didn't bother bother to ask how much it would cost; he only asked for the biggest bird they could provide. 

This is Thanksgiving we were talking about. Money was no object. 


I fumbled around Provençale for 20 minutes before a kind English-speaking person walked me to the right counter, took my membership paper and "special order" paper and left me and Ingrid to wait. The man returned with a big, white, squishy box. It was bigger than Ingrid. 

All of the sudden, the worries we had about cooking a turkey in our miniature European oven seemed pointless compared to if we would be able to refrigerate the fowl until cooking time. After cutting open the box, I tried to delicately wrap some paper around the freshly-killed bird and tried folding, tucking and finally manhandling it into our fridge, leaving little room for food. 

This is Thanksgiving we were talking about. Refrigerator space was no object. 

In Utah, finding, storing and cooking a 23-lb turkey is no big deal. But finding anything you need for a reasonable price and with a reasonable amount of effort does not exist in Luxembourg. 

Earlier in the week, Ben found a pan that would fit in the oven, but he didn't bother to check if the turkey would fit in it.  It didn't.  Saturday morning Ben had to go out again and search for a bigger roasting pan.  I had my concerns when he came home with a second pan and a saw.  He informed me that the measurements of the pan were fine, but the handles were too big for the european oven, so he was "going to take care of the problem".  In then end, the turkey, pan and handles all made it into the oven. It was a Thanksgiving miracle. 

Early on the morning of our own day of thanks, Megan, Martha and I met to run our usual Saturday eight miles. Megan surprised us with our very own Turkey Trot race bibs. Bless her. 

When the turkey was cooked, the pumpkin bars were frosted and we could hardly wait a minute longer, we drove to the Mullins and began the festivities. The adults ate first while the kids watched a movie, and it was perfect. The food was so good. Best turkey I’ve ever had. I was so proud of Ben, and so happy. The kids played happily and we stuffed ourselves. It was such a good day, and I feel like we successfully tricked ourselves into thinking it was Thanksgiving. 

Other things I want to remember about the past month: 

A mind-blowing conversation between Ben and I: 

Ben: guess what walkie talkies are called in French? 
Me: what? 
Ben: talkie walkies. 

Volunteering in Aksel's classroom twice a week during "arts and crafts". He's been struggling with this part of school -- refusing to do any work like painting or coloring. He will glue and occasionally cut, but some days he refuses to sit in a chair or participate. 

One of these is not like the other.

Our washing machine dying. 

Otto's first primary program at church -- I felt so overwhelmed with emotion for Otto for being such a good sport about the long hours and the practicing and the sitting. It’s a lot for a little guy to fully understand and grasp especially with so many different languages going on. I’m really proud of my family every day for surviving and thriving here in Luxembourg. We worked really hard to learn as many songs as we could in French and German, and I’m so proud of my little guy for sitting so still and doing his best to be a part of something like primary. He stood and said his part as loud as he could: I know my savior lives, je sais que mon sauveur vit. 

Going to the Luxembourg Christmas Market as a family. 

Ingrid and I riding bikes around the block while the boys are at school. She loves to say Moien! and wave to neighbors and shake their hands. She also loves to press our doorbell for long periods of time. 

Lingering at the playground after school so Otto can play with Daniel. 

Having a moment on the playground where I felt embarrassed about having three kids because another mom was like: "we go skiing in Austria and we are going to Thailand for Christmas and I take my kids to music class and to the library and our lives are filled with so much happiness and enriching activities and yours is filled with nap times and fighting". 

Otto getting out of bed (after being put to bed) four times to poop. 

Having to body slam Ingrid any time she needs to be buckled into her car seat or the stroller. 

Otto and Aksel put their arms around each other during scriptures one night. 

Meeting Hosanna, Sophie, and Beth Stokes at the library one last time and feeling genuinely sad about their return to England. 

Ben bringing me Chipotle home from Frankfurt. 

Playgroup at Justine Howarth's. 

Otto going to Daniel's birthday party at Indy Park one Saturday afternoon. 

Otto's hair cut. 

Preparing, setting up and executing a ward Christmas party. 

Making nativity cut-outs for Otto, Aksel, and Ingrid to hold as we told them the Nativity story.

Meeting with Aksel's teachers for his bilan (parent teacher conference).

Going to the Cologne, Germany Christmas Market as a family. 

Going to the Aachen, Germany Christmas market with friends. 

Making Christmas sugar cookies with Otto, Aksel, and Ingrid while listening to Christmas songs. 

I sang the song, Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Otto one night before bed and he was struck with amazement and excitement at this new song he’d never heard before. I love that. I love how much he loves a song about Santa. And I love that I have the ability to create a little magic for him.

Attending Megan's Christmas ornament exchange party. 

Selfie with Yudri at the ornament party. 

Running through the City Centre with Megan and Martha and seeing someone with full pants down pooping and peeing (and wiping) standing over a steamy grate. 

Ingrid and I running Christmas errands at La Belle Etoile and Auchan. 

Riding the carousel at Auchan. 

Walking the boys back to school and feeling blown away by how demanding the schedule is here on both my little guys, and yet they’ve risen to the challenge and really enjoy going. Never has Aksel complained about going, and the only time Otto has complained about going this year is when Aksel has been at home sleeping or home sick.

The boys being so sad I won’t let them unplug and plug in the Christmas tree lights. Ben said the voltage in Europe is too high and they could be seriously injured.

Christmas shopping with Megan, Vivi and Ingrid one morning. 

Aksel getting a much-needed haircut by Yudri after school one day. 

Playing at the Farm Park one afternoon with our friends. 

When we were riding bikes back to school, Otto lost control of his bike for a second and crashed into the road in front of an oncoming car. The car was able to stop before hitting Otto. I ran to him, helped him up, returned him to the sidewalk and then started crying and I immediately thought of all the prayers we offer for our children’s safety and knew my prayers had been answered.

Hosting a birthday party for Star Andrews. Martha and Sienna Ware, Becky and Eliza Packer, and Star came over to eat crêpes and celebrate. 

Otto realized how wonderful he had been behaving one day and said right before bedtime, Mom, will you tell Dad that I’ve been awesome?

Going to Otto and Aksel's school Christmas market. 

Ben traveling to, New York City, London (multiple times) Frankfurt, Bailiwick of Jersey, Bristol, Amsterdam, Gotenburg, and Madrid.

Aksel pretending the TV remote is a phone to call Dad.

Otto learning about and reading Hansel and Gretel at school and bringing home is own gingerbread house. 

Aksel can now take off and hang up his hat, gloves, backpack and coat. He can also remove his shoes and put on his slippers all by himself. I’m really proud of him. He’s come a long way since September 15 and even from November 15.

Spending the afternoon at the Castle Park. Aksel was such a good big brother to Ingrid. Several times I would see them playing with one another or Aksel helping Ingrid up a stair case or down a slide. Aksel was also really sweet to Elsie Mackay and leading her all over the park, picking up leaves. 

Ingrid jumping off the edge of the couch (trying to be like her brothers) and slamming her head on the marble floor. I scooped her up and she immediately vomited. I felt scared. I knew that was a bad sign. Megan came over to watch the boys while Ingrid and I went to the Emergency room (Ben was in London). Ingrid and I waited for more than two hours at the hospital before being seen. Doctor Siebel examined her and she checked out okay. He said if she vomited again, we had to come right back to the hospital.  She babbled the entire drive back home and took a few minutes to settle into her bed for the night, but didn't vomit again. I’m continually praying for Ingrid’s safety in Luxembourg. Our house and stairs feel really dangerous; my prayers were heard and answered this night. 

All of us, except Otto, getting the flu. 

Going to the pharmacy to buy flu shots for me and the kids. Putting the vaccines in our fridge and scheduling doctor appointments so the shots could be administered by a professional. I considered for about 15 seconds having Ben give us all the shots and then I reconsidered. 

Celebrating St. Nicholas' Day on December 6. We set the boys’ boots outside their bedroom door and filled one boot with chocolates and the other boot with a small Lego set.

Spending a Sunday afternoon at the Airplane Park. I really loved how well Otto and Aksel played together. It’s always nice to have friends at the park, but it’s even better when I see my two boys learn and enjoy to play with one another. They ran all over playing and having fun. Fifteen seconds later I heard Otto yell, “I’m not playing with you anymore!” and it started to fade, but I want to remember what it felt like to watch these two little boys love to be together for a few minutes.

Ingrid keeps unzipping her pajamas at night in an attempt to get to her belly button. She likes to play with her belly button as she falls asleep. I went into her room a half dozen times one night to find her pajamas off or nearly off.

Getting a Christmas tree from Cactus one Saturday. 

Aksel is hard to keep entertained during church, but he’s hard to keep entertained in general unless he’s allowed to move his body at full capacity. He’s happiest when he’s running, climbing, jumping, somersaulting and touching things. Telling that boy to sit in a chair and hold still for an hour and 10 minutes just doesn’t work. He’s learning and getting better each week. He tried to spit the sacrament cup back into the tray one day. So we’ll work on that for next month.

I loved so many things about the past month, but the things I loved best were watching my kids wrestle with Ben, eating Indian takeout late at night with Ben, laying next to Aksel and reading the same books over and over. I like the way he snuggles in next to me and drifts off to sleep while I sing. I love hearing him say, love you too, Mom, as I leave the room. 

I love hearing Ingrid say more and more words and phrases. I love the way Aksel blows his bangs out of his eyes. I love how Otto protests going back to school because he wants to stay home and play with me. I love the way Aksel wants to kiss me over and over again during his bedtime routine. I love the way Otto cuddles up next to me during his bedtime routine. I love the way Ingrid love pears and holding my hand. 

There is much to love about life right now and there is much to love about Luxembourg. I love the boys' school. I love seeing Ben grow in his calling as a High Councilman. I love my friends. I love seeing a different part of the world. I love hearing Ben improve his French. I love that me and my kids are exposed to different languages and cultures. I love Luxembourg.