tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10586494135339370392024-03-05T02:54:19.598-06:00Amazing Survivor MomThe story of a married, middle school English teacher with a serious TV addiction and a serious case of not-being-a-perfect-mom to 3 year-old twin boys who suddenly finds herself living in Poland.Rosstwinmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00020520796909367711noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1058649413533937039.post-37472953466013203742011-08-19T10:39:00.001-05:002011-08-19T10:41:57.629-05:00Hey! I'm Moving!Don't Worry; it's just my blog.<br />
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I found a web hosting site that is easier to use. I think you'll really like it!<br />
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All future posts can be found here:<br />
<a href="http://amazingsurvivormom.wordpress.com/">http://amazingsurvivormom.wordpress.com/</a>Rosstwinmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00020520796909367711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1058649413533937039.post-44493504686180360542011-08-02T07:32:00.001-05:002011-08-02T07:46:29.717-05:00Episode 10: I'd Like to Teach the World to SmileWell, not the world. Just Poland.<br />
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And really, not the teenagers and early twenty-somethings because they smile at the boys and I all the time. <br />
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I'm talking abut other moms. Potential friends. The Knowing Smile of Mom Camaraderie does not exist here, but I'd like to teach my new potential mates (British slang, I know, but at least it's Euro.) how to win friends and influence people without saying a word.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvu_FbgptwGpQNIL4voslBCJzLSpi2ShLeHNPZ7GKF4ZlqdrvkARYwseRnWMr1bR3bdLZ32ak3uHkfhYS6uVw7WHEJSmh97wknYw9wwhQOvqn9Xx1NGPKGQBNd4dMaKhok98lv9hIb0z1/s1600/959-smiley-face-pictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvu_FbgptwGpQNIL4voslBCJzLSpi2ShLeHNPZ7GKF4ZlqdrvkARYwseRnWMr1bR3bdLZ32ak3uHkfhYS6uVw7WHEJSmh97wknYw9wwhQOvqn9Xx1NGPKGQBNd4dMaKhok98lv9hIb0z1/s320/959-smiley-face-pictures.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i><b>I'm the yellow one.</b></i></div><br />
<u>Smile 1: On The Sidewalk</u><br />
Despite what you may be used to, it's okay to smile at strangers you pass on the sidewalk! Your smile may convey the following messages:<br />
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"Hi! We live in the same neighborhood. It's nice to see you."<br />
"Wow! Isn't it pretty outside today? We live in a beautiful place!"<br />
"Awwww, look at your sweet boys. You must really have fun with them on walks."<br />
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Here's what I believe your non-smiling, non-eye-contact actions convey:<br />
"Get off my sidewalk."<br />
"Your children are polluting my air."<br />
"Poland is not for you. Leave."<br />
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<u>Smile 2: Whilst Shopping</u><br />
One thing I do a lot of is shop. Groceries, toys (all the damn time it seems, but why?), random crap. I see you at all of the places I spend my time and money, and you look right through me. It stings a bit. A smile in these times would mean a lot. Especially when my kids are acting a little 'spirited'. Here's what a smile might say to me in these situations:<br />
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"I have kids too. I feel your pain."<br />
"This would be so much easier without kids tagging along, right?"<br />
"You should totally buy that scarf! It's so cute!"<br />
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Your current non-looks or outright scowls say:<br />
"Get out of my store. You may shop when I leave."<br />
"We don't have loud kids in Poland. You must be foreign."<br />
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<u>Smile 3: Meeting The Neighbors</u><br />
When Michael and I returned from our vacation, my parents informed me that a family had moved into the other apartment on our floor. Hooray! Further, we learned they have a son who is about 8 or 9 and a new baby! Who loves babies she doesn't have to wake up for? Me!!! So far, the son has smiled and said hello in return to my awesome greetings in Polish. The dad said hello once. And the mom? Utter contempt oozed from her eyes the first time I saw her. We were literally 2 feet from each other in our shared garage, and I had the boys with me. She was carrying the new baby. I smiled that loving babies smile. The boys were quiet and kept their germs away. Nothin'. I'm hoping the family was just having a bad day and did not have time to chit-chat with me. But what I really think is--they hate me and my kids. Or possibly my dad offended them while I was gone. Who knows? But, in case they ever do want to meet us, a smile says:<br />
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"Nice to meet you."<br />
"It's good to have another family living so close."<br />
"You aren't so bad."<br />
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So, my future Polish friends, that's the quick and easy way to meet me! Your smile in return to mine, and then I do the rest. If the situation calls for it, I'll talk to you. If not, I'll at least feel like you don't hate my very existence. Thanks in advance!Rosstwinmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00020520796909367711noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1058649413533937039.post-68021126709705175012011-07-23T15:24:00.002-05:002011-07-24T04:34:45.546-05:00Episode 9: My Kids Are Funny<b>Update: Now with more cute! I added a video of Alex and his new skill.</b><br />
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Hey strangers! I'm back from my fabulous vacation and knew you'd be missing me. I'll have more on that and other thoughts that I've had but not shared (such a rare occurrence!) soon. Today I had to say good-bye to my parents as they headed back to Texas. *sigh*<br />
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So, to cheer myself up and to give you a little Stephanie, here are some cute things from the boys.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrhNrGJCy-hpzTtlWJ3txVltSdFv-cxiyFkZbWwne_7xjZJC3hubr7njfLFn4AjqbJ77IQktO94HnEREj0lRCZaHbtWaVcu3SJMBDRoBrpV57dgkrdhie-bvlq5eMrFyBDiT3UT2Jo1ZG/s1600/IMG_0681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrhNrGJCy-hpzTtlWJ3txVltSdFv-cxiyFkZbWwne_7xjZJC3hubr7njfLFn4AjqbJ77IQktO94HnEREj0lRCZaHbtWaVcu3SJMBDRoBrpV57dgkrdhie-bvlq5eMrFyBDiT3UT2Jo1ZG/s320/IMG_0681.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Look! I caught me some Buddies!</b></i></span></div><br />
* The other night we (my parents, the boys, my husband, and I) were all in the living room together. My dad likes to push Jack's buttons, so he started tickling him. Jack sometimes likes this and other times gets pissed. Tonight, he was pissed. I told him to just tell Grandpa that he wasn't in the mood to be funny or play games right now. (See how awesome I am? I empower my kids to use words to express themselves. Words like, "MOMMY! You are driving bad!") Grandpa respected Jack's wishes, and Jack was fine. All was well. Then Grandpa started talking to Alex and being silly with him. Alex said, "Grandpa! This is not a time for jokes!" It was so funny because Alex is the silliest boy ever, but he nailed the tone of voice to reprimand Grandpa about when it's okay to be silly.<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>More cute Buddy talk and a video after the jump!</b></i></span><br />
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* The boys have this game where they line up all their cars and then sell them to each other. They also enjoy selling them to any adult in the room. When Alex offers you a car and gives you a price, all you have to do is say you will pay less, and he says okay. So, Grandpa taught him that he needs to be firm on his price. Now, Alex offers you a car for say, five dollars. You counter with four dollars. And then, my 3 and a half year old says, "No sir, no sir, my price is five dollars." Freakin' hilarious!<br />
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* And finally, a sweet note from my Jackers. Today Grandpa was telling the boys that it was time for him and Nana to go home. Alex said, "But I don't want you to go." Grandpa and I both got tears in our eyes. Then my strong, silent-type Jack looked up from his cars and smiled at Grandpa as he put his sweet little Jack hand on Grandpa's arm. I started sobbing and had to leave the room. Because I am super emotionally stable.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQb5HTPUiH6TPZHmK4W_qMpQOV5h2woNmpEOSdoVv_-d2uJlgeJOv-w6i4BCxhqWMElqkMcIjcga4K7C3slgKCNH8aCBXiJSfFYgwSF6b5chonxTr1ZTIpne9_DM9yfJGc0baOaIywLQ5b/s1600/IMG_0671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQb5HTPUiH6TPZHmK4W_qMpQOV5h2woNmpEOSdoVv_-d2uJlgeJOv-w6i4BCxhqWMElqkMcIjcga4K7C3slgKCNH8aCBXiJSfFYgwSF6b5chonxTr1ZTIpne9_DM9yfJGc0baOaIywLQ5b/s320/IMG_0671.jpg" width="239" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Bye-bye Nana and Grandpa! You took great care of us, and we had so much fun! We'll see you in Texas in December!Rosstwinmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00020520796909367711noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1058649413533937039.post-3740526298942890672011-06-29T01:15:00.000-05:002011-06-29T01:15:08.576-05:00Episode 8: How Many Poles Does It Take To Celebrate The 4th of July?None, because they aren't in America! (Funny, no?)<br />
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Sadly, I'm not stateside myself this year. Not funny.<br />
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The 4th has always been a favorite holiday of mine. It is just a fun time. It is a day where hosts and party guests alike are at ease. It is a day to make plans or not. Whatever you feel like! Go with the mood or plan a big celebration-you pick!<br />
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Yes, we've done family things, but it's not the obligation of a holiday like Christmas. We see who we see. We don't stress months in advance to make sure we do the right thing by everyone.<br />
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When family is involved, for us, it's all about fun. My mom and dad make hot dogs, burgers, and my mom's famous fried potatoes. Trust me, they will change your life. She also always does root beer floats and some other fun dessert. It's not something that keeps her away from us cooking all day; there are easy things for everyone to help with. Then, it's outdoor play or swimming and a search for fireworks. We pride ourselves on serious scouting to find good parking and secret spots with good views. (With apologies to my brother Rob and my niece Jordan for the ten mile hike back to the car in 2009. That was all my fault.)<br />
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Most of us don't even mind the matching shirts. <i> See the matching shirts after the jump!</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjeoVZ6mltcSxcnQmr8jMRSefPdl5JBJOpA0WYzd8LwAUI8sAVgOcTK6zZjKcsub0W0h_FnnSNkgFBlRqPsKsPY7fRZ3JqYvVyLQc6V7iG86QJuayUDbOlBUWOU1-PUZFMbMhhEFhZhbX/s1600/IMG_0893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjeoVZ6mltcSxcnQmr8jMRSefPdl5JBJOpA0WYzd8LwAUI8sAVgOcTK6zZjKcsub0W0h_FnnSNkgFBlRqPsKsPY7fRZ3JqYvVyLQc6V7iG86QJuayUDbOlBUWOU1-PUZFMbMhhEFhZhbX/s320/IMG_0893.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My husband, me, our boys, and my niece, Jordan. Notice my husband is NOT wearing his matching shirt. He is such a punk. The boys get a pass because they had already completely sweat through theirs.</i></span></b></div><br />
On the 4th of July the year the movie <i>Independence Day</i> came out, I was with family in Roswell, New Mexico. It just so happened to coincide with the <a href="http://www.ufofestivalroswell.com/">Roswell UFO Festival.</a> (Just for the record, I was born there, so go easy on the mocking.) Imagine sitting in a movie theater watching <i>Independence Day</i> ON the 4th in a town in the middle of celebrating UFO's. When they actually mentioned Roswell in the film, it was madness in the theater. Good times for sure.<br />
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Once I was married, we got a free pass to spend the day with our friends. We shared the same kinds of fun. Food, sun, fireworks, no stress. Just more cussing because no grown-ups were around. And a lot more indecisiveness because that's how our group of friends rolls. I have no idea how we ended up doing so many things considering how terrible we are at making group decisions. I've actually seen us take an hour to pick a restaurant for a random Saturday dinner. Not kidding.<br />
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Then we had kids. That put us back on the family obligation track. Because the kids are what they had been waiting for. They were only easy-going about not seeing us because Michael and I aren't new and cuddly and such. But who could blame them for being more insistent. I mean, look at my boys.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHdhiRp2R8pP1DdUxRKD1IHm4K1_XUG5tEkNXLqiCgSvX5TQkpagxN7lI8b-OphN5TKEun8csVtxcdYHPnnhf_xn0cSCSDrVRYTGDctETXTu238yfppyci4AL4vYuCtlIazXdtQNnVXXe/s1600/IMG_0835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHdhiRp2R8pP1DdUxRKD1IHm4K1_XUG5tEkNXLqiCgSvX5TQkpagxN7lI8b-OphN5TKEun8csVtxcdYHPnnhf_xn0cSCSDrVRYTGDctETXTu238yfppyci4AL4vYuCtlIazXdtQNnVXXe/s320/IMG_0835.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Alex and Jack on their first 4th of July</b></i></div><br />
We actually spent that first 4th inviting ourselves to swim with the boys' godparents and eating at Sonic. No fireworks, just a tired family. I bet my mom is still bitter. <br />
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The following year was a family-palooza complete with crafts and games and relatives everywhere, oh my!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXbP3GvysriEtfPOb6MhbDfFj7eNg85f1iTSd1PeRMUscTM7WvwV25JSu-TBpi9e4g9fyHkwc2NWy_iBJhwaWs1RNtHk5cckoQdt2__t96QakFFFd5Rfusz9fn6vqPlboiST543-Tej6O/s1600/DSCN0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXbP3GvysriEtfPOb6MhbDfFj7eNg85f1iTSd1PeRMUscTM7WvwV25JSu-TBpi9e4g9fyHkwc2NWy_iBJhwaWs1RNtHk5cckoQdt2__t96QakFFFd5Rfusz9fn6vqPlboiST543-Tej6O/s320/DSCN0246.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Yes, the matching shirts had cool nicknames on the back. I can't believe my husband wouldn't wear his in public.</b></i></div><br />
Last year we did something a little unusual. No cook out. No outside fun. We just watched fireworks. On the roof of the hospital parking garage. The hospital I had just been released from moments before. Because I'm so normal I had to have emergency surgery to remove some of my guts. Now in addition to my floppy, jacked-up post-twin tummy, my belly-button is crooked, and I have a scar right down the middle of it. I tried taking a picture, but I just couldn't get a realistic one. My crazy iphone kept adding stretch marks and general heinousness.<br />
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So, this year will be another break from tradition. I'll miss friends and fireworks. I'll miss a day of relaxing and just going with the flow. But, I'll have these guys.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oV3HU4nnYuQhhsnaQG5CAlfFqjLvDfIunFwZ0X3-qL0pTyxDbI-F6wp7MB3ScQ9we_6SvZij1ngYlOlUPe-NCKpWBOsRt7uH8n2iIYJ_imeEwUWdZZQW44SIgdfCGf6b9ls7ROilzQIi/s1600/IMG_2842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oV3HU4nnYuQhhsnaQG5CAlfFqjLvDfIunFwZ0X3-qL0pTyxDbI-F6wp7MB3ScQ9we_6SvZij1ngYlOlUPe-NCKpWBOsRt7uH8n2iIYJ_imeEwUWdZZQW44SIgdfCGf6b9ls7ROilzQIi/s320/IMG_2842.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And I'll have my husband and the knowledge that he and I will get a vacation alone starting July 7th. And my parents will be here so a little bit of America is coming to us. And you know my mom will bring us the annual <a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=65751">Old Navy 4th of July shirts</a>. (There is no Old Navy here. I know. I sacrificed a lot for this adventure in Poland.) She's also bringing Ziploc baggies and Kraft Mac N Cheese. America the beautiful indeed.<br />
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<i><b>Come back in November when I'll rant about no Thanksgiving. No football! No turkey! No post-turkey nap! No post-nap movie! No using my super awesome skills at avoiding cooking AND doing the dishes! Seriously!??!?!?</b></i>Rosstwinmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00020520796909367711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1058649413533937039.post-46610519540730115902011-06-27T09:18:00.001-05:002011-06-27T09:22:49.066-05:00Episode 7: The Real Housewife of Poland<i>On this episode, find out why a stay-at-home mom who has only 2 kids who are fully mobile and old enough to play alone in another room while she loads the dishes, as well as having no friends to visit and having hobbies that can be done in the home, has a nanny. (To be read by Andy Cohen in that voice of his that shows even he is baffled that people watch this crap.)</i><br />
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Her name is Miss Ola. And I'm not giving her up. Ever.<br />
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Fairly soon after we got settled into our apartment here in Gdynia, it became obvious to everyone that I had gone a little nutso (the exact clinical diagnosis). I was angry those days my friend. "Like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli."<br />
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In an effort to save the children from too much time with a person on the edge of hating a whole country out of loneliness and anxiety, Michael suggested I get someone to help me out at home. Of course, this led to more anxiety because I had no idea where to start looking. In Texas, we had a Mother's Helper after my surgery last summer. Her name is Hannah, and she too is the most awesomest person ever. At 15 she already knows how to deal with a Jack and keep an Alex safe. If we could have packed her up and moved her here, I would have. (Just an FYI, she is home schooled and therefore super easy to get in the middle of the week in the middle of the day. If you are looking for help, I highly suggest this kind of arrangement. I found her through my dad's church. And also I think God sent her to me.)<br />
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As luck would have it, one of Michael's coworkers has a fiance who is studying to be a teacher. A kindergarten teacher. (Kindergarten here means ages 2 to 5 or 6.) At first, I asked her to help me find a nanny. She told me she had friends who live here in Gdynia and are also students. I crossed my fingers and hoped for a lead. Well, she couldn't find anyone but offered to do it herself. I was thrilled since I'd met her before.<br />
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It was kind of crazy trying to figure out her schedule and how much we would pay her. The language barrier was a bit tough even though she does speak English. She just doesn't speak crazy, Stephanie, fast, made-up words English. I was also worried that she may not want to do this for too long since it takes her over 2 hours to get here on days she doesn't come straight from school! <br />
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The first couple of sessions were rough. The boys really wanted me to be in the same room the whole time. They were not used to her Polish accent and her fairly abrupt way of talking to them. She don't take no sh*t. But, pretty quickly it became obvious to me and them that she adored the boys and really wanted to do right by them. They warmed to her and she to them.<br />
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She brings games. She brings candy. She brings CD's and sings all the songs with them. She plays soccer and chases balloons. In a word, she's super! Super cute video after the jump!<br />
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We had planned to only use her until the boys got settled in school. I had first set an end date of April. Then May. Well, how about still once a week in June? Um, please don't go?!?!?!<br />
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I've convinced myself the boys would be terribly upset if they didn't see her again. I've also convinced myself that working with my boys is awesome practice for her real job. She needs us too, right? Also, when would I blog? The people need the blog!<br />
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She is interviewing every week now and should have a job soon. I'm guessing she won't want to come over after teaching all day to then play-teach my kids. Even though they are funny and totally learning Polish from her.<br />
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So, for now, I'm listening to my boys giggle and play with Miss Ola as I cram cookies in my face and <strike>play </strike>work on the computer. Later, I'll head to the grocery store by myself so that I may shop in silence and not utter the word 'no' even once. I'll enjoy this privileged life as long as I can. Then, my parents will come visit, and the hubs and I will tour Prague and Vienna. It will also be rough, but I think I'll get through.Rosstwinmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00020520796909367711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1058649413533937039.post-53865154474678959632011-06-13T09:17:00.000-05:002011-06-13T09:17:52.505-05:00Episode 6: European VacationsSince one of our main pros for moving to Poland was that we could see Europe, we have always planned to travel as much as possible while living here. We also plan to, of course, see as much of our area as possible. Once the snow melted, and my blood pressure returned to a somewhat normal level, we took to the road.<br />
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Our first big trip was a three-day weekend in Warsaw. We left on a Saturday and didn't leave the house until 10 or 10:30 which was good for us but would have made my father go nuts. The day is half over by then!!! For us, it was good because I could pack, and the boys started the day in a fairly normal fashion. We have friends who time their trips so the kids are asleep as much as possible. They've left in the wee hours of the morning and night. We've left late at night only once, and that was before kids. We high-tailed it out of Odessa, Texas after a friend's wedding. I was just too afraid to stay there any longer lest we lose our sanity.<br />
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Of course, when traveling with young kids you must pack snacks and toys. I did. Unfortunately we'd eaten all of the snacks the first hour in the car. We had to stop about 4 hours in to get snacks at the grubbiest supermarket in Poland. I got dirty just walking through the door. The kids chose some kiwi juice (not kidding) that was puke green and on sale. Totally safe. They gulped it in the car like it was fine wine. Along with the spicy nacho tortilla chips their dad thought was a good idea. <br />
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And the toys were not as interesting as the cars and trucks we passed on the way. Which sounds great but really means that Alex told us every car, truck, house, and sign we passed. The kid was not quiet for 6 hours. He slept zero seconds.<br />
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The roads were fine. I was worried because we'd heard they would be not great. There was a stretch that was basically like a one-lane ride through a country town, but we're from Texas. That ain't no thing. <br />
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We drove into Warsaw in the early evening. We drove right by old town, and it was so pretty! That would be the last I saw of it. The boys got excited by the buses and city trains we passed. They did get a little tense when we searched for the hotel and did not immediately find it or a parking place. Our boys do not handle uncertainty in the car really well. <br />
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The hotel was perfect. It was right in the center of downtown. We were right across from a central train and bus depot as well as a cool clock tower and lots of restaurants. Since it's such a busy part of downtown, the sidewalks go underground at the intersections. Alex loved this!!! He said, "I wonder how somebody thought of that?" <br />
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Of course we ate at McDonald's for dinner. Which was fine. Except we couldn't find it. We had to ask, and then this nice couple basically walked us there. It was a pretty nice Nugget Store (what my boys call McDonald's). They had nice outside seating and access to beer (which I didn't have but wanted very badly). You know what else it had outside? Birds. Lots of birds used to getting food from patrons. So, I was twitchy through the whole meal. It took a bird exactly 2 seconds to take the cheeseburger parts the boys dropped under our table. Also, there was a bird on our table. ON OUR TABLE!!! I'm fine though.<br />
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We tried to go to a restaurant farther away or just different, but I think Jack was having a bit of trouble with the change. I think he thought we were moving again. We put our stuff in the hotel room and went for a walk. About 5 minutes in, Jack demanded we go back for his lovies. He didn't even want to ride a train. That's one stressed Jackers! We did convince him to ride an underground train, but it was so loud he had to be carried onto it on the way back. I had to stay at the top of the stairs and rush him down to the train once it stopped at the platform. So, as you can see, McDonald's was the easy answer.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaah3QvOM_J6wdydVoBD22V78Db2FuyuC_iDx7IQBflhaVL5aXVcSs-01IdWxNYlUenL-VAp-Pk_5UM5CtdULYPbHw3BYeC9DpHw4FzyzB-77wduokapo0cUtDwWMhGZtfAqyEMKRQ1BI/s1600/IMG_1141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaah3QvOM_J6wdydVoBD22V78Db2FuyuC_iDx7IQBflhaVL5aXVcSs-01IdWxNYlUenL-VAp-Pk_5UM5CtdULYPbHw3BYeC9DpHw4FzyzB-77wduokapo0cUtDwWMhGZtfAqyEMKRQ1BI/s320/IMG_1141.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8POblwwp5Z1kFrIbQ_DYDkJ8VC-Hvl8wAaDF8kmDwFO0b2FJAcmWD03noi9I4JaIj0XlZ3Z_cdnOJCNdguP4I04Rs5fQ6kqslU-0q7vMTWQTbixUzht6xZ_ch81xof6E9b_hdsy87t3_/s1600/IMG_1143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8POblwwp5Z1kFrIbQ_DYDkJ8VC-Hvl8wAaDF8kmDwFO0b2FJAcmWD03noi9I4JaIj0XlZ3Z_cdnOJCNdguP4I04Rs5fQ6kqslU-0q7vMTWQTbixUzht6xZ_ch81xof6E9b_hdsy87t3_/s320/IMG_1143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvhFhcypr-RFDum4R-_fG50s5eUxyvxPP4Xr0vRaIikeVKrBivMiOlnlP-uuk5GW_gtP1jdEVl-1NcO7Nmf9Iw47L0j-XtGlh35TGPQBgOguQq7Kk3tK-bGk9omevkJ6shVGSh5NVGcdB/s1600/IMG_1149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvhFhcypr-RFDum4R-_fG50s5eUxyvxPP4Xr0vRaIikeVKrBivMiOlnlP-uuk5GW_gtP1jdEVl-1NcO7Nmf9Iw47L0j-XtGlh35TGPQBgOguQq7Kk3tK-bGk9omevkJ6shVGSh5NVGcdB/s320/IMG_1149.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I swear this is Warsaw. These are the only pictures I took. It is really hard to photograph a family vacation with only 2 grown-ups around. We need a professional photographer to follow us.</span></span></b><br />
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The next morning we were ready to start a fun day of seeing sights! But it was raining. Oh well, we're on vacation! I ordered breakfast in the room. Apparently I ordered enough for about 8 people. It also cost way more than I had thought. But that's okay! We're on vacation! And the boys ate like one bite of everything so it was totally worth it.<br />
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We decided to head to the zoo despite the unexpected weather. We got to pass the cool new football(soccer) stadium they are building for the Euro Cup which will be held in Poland next summer. When we got to the zoo, it looked fairly uncrowded, but the weather was not only wet but a little chilly. We consulted our handy dandy guides and decided to take the boys to the science museum. We talked it up big time and told them it would be way better than the zoo!!!! (You know this is going to end badly, right?)<br />
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We had a bit of trouble finding the museum. As it turns out, we parked about 200 miles from it. But we soldiered on. Because it was going to be awesome!!! And the lobby was. And that's all we saw. The line to get in was 2 hours long. (This time I'm not exaggerating.) And it was outside in the cold. But the boys really did enjoy the robot in the lobby. We almost couldn't get them to leave him. We were able to talk them into buying some bouncy balls in the gift shop though which became the bane of my existence for the rest of the day as they fought over the cool one and lost them in the hotel room.<br />
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So, we gave the zoo another try. We got to enjoy some waffles (called gofry) with sugar and whipped cream on them. This is a very popular treat here and can be found at all the beach stores/restaurants too. We saw some monkeys and fish and giraffes. They were the prettiest giraffes I've ever seen. They ran some, and I don't think I've ever seen them run in person. It was pretty amazing. The boys were mostly wanting to see giraffes, so we left after. It was still cold and wet. It was the shortest zoo visit in history.<br />
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For lunch, we headed to a Mexican restaurant that was recommended in several guides. We promised the boys quesadillas and maybe even guacamole!!! Um, but since it was Sunday, they didn't have their regular menu. It was a brunch buffet. So, no quesadillas. But, I did find some tacos that Jack and I both liked. I think Alex had nuggets and Michael had misery with ketchup. There was a room in the back with toys and face painting and balloon animals. The boys would only go in there with me at first. It's tough for them to navigate big groups of kids when they are the only ones speaking English. I totally understand that. They were troopers though. They even sat through most of the puppet show. I have no idea what it was about, and the dude doing all the voices and telling the story was a bit creepy, but my boys laughed when the other kids laughed. At one point Jack turned to me and said, "That bear said something funny!!!" If you say so.<br />
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We went back to the hotel and napped our butts off. Whee!!! Daddy took us out to eat at Hard Rock, and the boys had fun picking out which guitar they might like to play some day. Then, the funniest thing ever happened. The waitress came to give us the check, and Alex winked at her!!!! It was so awesome. I had no idea he had been practicing, and no one told him to do it just then. He just has a knack for knowing how to wow the ladies. We bought Alex his first Hard Rock t-shirt, but Jack didn't want one. He is too cool for things like that I guess.<br />
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Then, Daddy had a great idea to ride the above-ground city trains. The boys were in heaven. Jack could have ridden those trains for hours. It was truly a happy thing for them. We returned to the hotel with a content feeling and good feelings about our day. They were even dazzled by the twinkly lights above the hotel entrance.<br />
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The next morning was still more chilly and wet than we would have liked. We decided to go to another hotel for breakfast. Michael is a super genius and found one with a buffet that had pancakes and fruit and yogurt and the right syrup! (The boys are now only wanting real maple syrup. Not the imitation stuff I love. I'm slowly losing them to better taste. I'm afraid I'd never get them to like Tang.)<br />
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After that, we had another sure-fire trick up our sleeve. We took them to a train museum. Bonus--it was free!!! There were model trains everywhere. But you couldn't touch them. At all. There was a guard. That did not stop the boys from having fun. In fact, that was the most animated I have ever seen Jack get. At one point Alex and Michael were outside looking at the big train while Jack and I looked inside. He pointed out all the parts of all the models. He loved each and every one. I almost cried he was so happy. I'll never forget how much he loved those trains.<br />
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Here is where the easy-going, roll-with-the-punches parents left the building.<br />
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Daddy suggested more riding of actual trains. I wanted to go to the old town and ride the train that goes around the square. You know, maybe see a tourist spot? But no, we rode the city trains again. To nowhere. Just up and back. Whee. To be fair, the boys loved it. They think of those trains a lot. But I just wanted to see the square. So, I may have pouted. Michael may have over-reacted to my pouting by saying something martyrish about being sorry the whole vacation was so awful. Whee.<br />
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Luckily, we didn't let this get much further. I think we were both tired and bummed that the weather was not great. We rebounded and finished the trip at a big mall where we found pancake mix we love, mac and cheese by Kraft (Well, they call it cheesy pasta, but you can't fool me.) and some magazines in English.<br />
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The ride home was a bit tough at the end because Alex was so tired and couldn't really sleep comfortably. He's not like Jack who can sleep standing up. But we all calmed down at home and spent the next day together because Michael was still off work.<br />
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All in all, I'd say it was a success. The boys ask when we are going back to the 'yellow city' which is what they call it because our hotel was yellow. They loved the hotel room and the cool sliding glass doors at the entrance. They loved the trains. They had Mommy and Daddy at full attention. There was no work, no computer, no distractions. We had no chores in the back of our minds and no real place to be. You can't get in a huff about not seeing everything with kids. You would do better to just enjoy where the moment takes you and let it go. We are headed to Berlin this weekend. I'll try to take more pictures and throw <strike>no more</strike> less tiny hissy fits. I know there are more trains and zoos in my future!Rosstwinmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00020520796909367711noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1058649413533937039.post-63142900526395568632011-06-10T07:15:00.000-05:002011-06-10T07:15:07.941-05:00Episode 5: Grease is the WordOne day, as I was cruising through my new town, I saw a sign.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVeE43X6jdJBhhiCFvF9FrSOpMBk4Nt2-ZmLFlkkyXZwUzKgH-87kizf_Zsr_hAbvs2Pkk8WQAD4MRs2qCyG-J-tAa6IPvpdKR06N_VkJGt4RL_Bv661_wLe7c6-ZmrgmYToSavXKfI0d/s1600/mklikfoto_teatr_41253d2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVeE43X6jdJBhhiCFvF9FrSOpMBk4Nt2-ZmLFlkkyXZwUzKgH-87kizf_Zsr_hAbvs2Pkk8WQAD4MRs2qCyG-J-tAa6IPvpdKR06N_VkJGt4RL_Bv661_wLe7c6-ZmrgmYToSavXKfI0d/s1600/mklikfoto_teatr_41253d2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Um, who loves Grease? <br />
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Me!!!!!! I decided to ask my friend Kasia to go see this with me. She is pregnant with her first child, and I thought a girls' night out would be fun for us. I was actually shy (It happens even to me!) and did not ask her myself. Michael told her I was interested and then told me she was interested. Then we passed a note during math class and set it up.<br />
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Just my luck, she got put on hospital bed rest the week of the show. I mean, how rude of her to try to keep her unborn child healthy and not go out with me. But, since a babysitter was already arranged, I decided to go. Yes, by myself. No, Michael did not jump at the chance to be my date (And boy, did he miss out on some VERY slutty costumes. Seriously, during the sleepover scene I almost took a phone pic to send him.).<br />
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Did I mention the show would be in Polish? Did I mention I never thought of that when I got the idea to go? Did I tell you having twins makes me a little dumb sometimes?<br />
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Despite this fact and the fact that my friend abandoned me because some doctor told her to, I was excited to have a night out and not have to try to get the rowdy kids put to bed. I took my Kindle in my purse in case the show was awful. I figured I could leave at intermission (which I keep wanting to call half-time because it's been a while since I've seen legitimate theater) and head to a bar nearby to read and eat.<br />
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I was able to walk to the theater. I felt pretty hip doing this because I've seen a lot of movies with cool chicks living in the city. As I got closer, I saw lots of people arriving and felt excited. I like being part of a crowd. There were a few school groups (high school aged) there and some families as well as the expected couples and girls' groups. I had a glass of wine in the lobby beforehand and took my seat when the bell rang.<br />
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I've not seen the Grease musical before, just the movie version. So, I have no idea if this show was true to the original or not. I do know that I really liked it though!<br />
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The first song was of course "Grease," and the only word in English was 'grease'. But, I still found myself dancing in my seat and tapping my toes. I was able to follow along well even though the plot was a bit different from the movie version. The large group numbers were great. The dancing in those was well-done and well-choreographed, and the music was on-key. They were super fun! (Am I 12?)<br />
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The main characters from the movie, Danny and Sandy, were not the best singers, dancers, or even the best looking in this musical version. But that's okay, because the three T-Birds that I consider background in the movie were great! Good singers and pretty cute. This Polish Sandy was NOT good at cry-singing. But really? Is anyone? In any language? To be honest, in the musical, Rizzo was the star. <br />
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I was very proud of myself for going, and pleased that it turned out to be a great show. I stayed for the whole thing and got to see a super-dance-party encore. The whole audience was digging it--clapping and standing up. I learned the Polish word for hooker: '<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="pl"><span class="hps" title="Click for alternate translations">prostytutka'. I also think I heard the word 'vagina' twice, but I am probably wrong. I thought the kids in the audience were so well-behaved. (Some boys even started the standing ovation at the end. So cute.) I walked home, and it was still light out at 9:30. So cool. I think this was like seeing an opera. I did not know the language, but I am familiar with the story and songs, so it was a nice night out. (Who am I kidding? I know the movie by heart.)</span></span><br />
<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="pl"><span class="hps" title="Click for alternate translations"><br />
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<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="pl"><span class="hps" title="Click for alternate translations">I am disappointed in only one thing. The musical did not answer my question. Why does Sandy go slutty? Seriously!?!?!?? Why was that better? Besides fitting in with the mean kids? I don't get it.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRx6tIEKaHqLC8CphT4uGMadGeZhF46hKELrqp2D3dOhD3yNuj-8EHeD0BwQEeehyphenhyphenMWMJuEMH6_m_OgWg6dDAH7537jC4IJS_1snqYyM5JiM-kK-G3USol2qLSqz0-sqMs-GgFsHx_5oA/s1600/cmhsmoke3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRx6tIEKaHqLC8CphT4uGMadGeZhF46hKELrqp2D3dOhD3yNuj-8EHeD0BwQEeehyphenhyphenMWMJuEMH6_m_OgWg6dDAH7537jC4IJS_1snqYyM5JiM-kK-G3USol2qLSqz0-sqMs-GgFsHx_5oA/s320/cmhsmoke3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Rosstwinmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00020520796909367711noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1058649413533937039.post-90580008992063575152011-06-08T03:25:00.001-05:002011-06-08T03:28:16.414-05:00Episode 4: Ask a BloggerI'm totally phoning it in today. I need to blog but also need to do about one zillion other things. So.....hows about you help a girl out? Give me an easy topic for my next post. Answer these questions, and you'll get a prize. A new blog post!<br />
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What questions do you have about living in Poland?<br />
What questions do you have about international travel with little kids? <br />
What questions do you have about Europe in general?<br />
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Thanks ya'll!!!Rosstwinmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00020520796909367711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1058649413533937039.post-50220076946374451092011-05-23T04:20:00.001-05:002011-05-23T04:22:07.498-05:00The Pilot Episode: Things you may have missed.<span style="font-size: large;">I'm warning you. This blog is a glimpse into my mind. And as such, you will not get progression (Well, not always, I may get it going a time or two). You will not necessarily get all my thoughts on the same issue at the same time. You will not get an unbiased opinion on anything. You will not always get grammatically correct sentences because I have an English degree which affords me the right to abuse the language and call it art.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You will get drama. Like, stories told with the most hyperbole ever!!!! You will get sarcasm. You will get lame reality TV jokes and references. You will get to know my kids. You will adore them. You will learn that you must tell me I'm good and give me gold stars just for doing my job or I get low self-esteem. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I realized after my last post that I had never explained the why? of this blog. My first ever post was a little background and info on the main topic. Instead, I should have told you what my point is. (Sometimes I have one; sometimes I don't.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> To be honest, I'm writing this blog because my mom told me I had to. Seriously. She did. She had a great point. She thought I would be able to let friends back home know what we were up to and learn about our life in Poland. She also thought it would be a great record for me to have later. (Actually, she wants me to make it a book. A bestseller. Because my mom thinks I'm awesome.) It would serve as a glimpse into all the thoughts and feelings and ups and downs we went through on this journey. So, that is why I'm doing this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Back to the topic of my last blog(which got erased and may not be missed due to its tone)....a couple of people have told me it made them sad. For me. And my sad sackness. Well, I am pathetic at times, but that was not the tone I was working towards. I was really hoping you'd get the reflection aspect and know we had faced those problems and were working on them and moving on to other things. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not miserable here. I was. I ain't gonna lie. The first 6 weeks or more sucked. I would have written about it then but was afraid my husband would have freaked out and sent me back to Texas to chill the hell out. I knew he was stressed too and felt solely responsible for our family being here even though we both made the decision. I for sure will try to write about those first days when I can. I'm just worried that reliving the negative will make me negative now. That's how I am. My brain seizes negative thoughts and holds on tight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The reality is that I love it here and am sad here every day. Some days it's more one than the other. Some days it's all one feeling not the other. It has been tough for all the reasons my husband and I talked about before we said yes. But just because we talked about them and were aware of them doesn't mean they don't still take work to get through. We left a great life. I wasn't searching for a new one; I was hoping to add to the full one. I was excited to make this happen for my kids. I am who I am today because of the moving around I've done in my life, and moving internationally would be such a chance for them to learn about who they are. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wish I had a twitter account. Or could give you instant access to my brain. (Mostly because I'm lazy and terrible at writing every day.) Then, the moment I drive by the pier and see no less than 5 different kinds of boats/ships as well as people walking and sunning and smile to myself, you'd know about my life. You'd see that it is made of many moments, not just the sad ones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let's end with a promise. I promise too do more good stuffs. I promise to tone down the drama. But I also reserve the right to go back to it at any time if I want to be funny or if you really must know that I'm sad/mad/glad/turned into a Dr. Suess book. You promise to picture me telling you these things in person so you can watch my face and hear my voice and know I'm just reliving a single moment in time.</span>Rosstwinmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00020520796909367711noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1058649413533937039.post-58701884426849399182011-03-18T08:00:00.002-05:002011-06-08T09:53:55.943-05:00A Very Special Episode: Happy Birthday Sweet CarterMarch 18 is our sweet baby Carter's birthday. It has been five years. I sit here far away from his home in Dallas and wonder what it would be like to have a 5 year old running around Poland with Jack and Alex. It will be hard this year being so far away from him. This is the first year we won't be able to see the beautiful roses that grow in our yard in his honor. The bright pink, giant Teacup Roses that grow in the backyard without work or worry. They are just there to brighten the day. They bloom and flourish to remind me of the beautiful things that God makes, including my sweet Carter. The yellow roses in the front yard are Carter's too. Given to us by dear friends who mourned his lose with us. They grow with vigor among the beautiful yellow flowers given to us by other caring friends who remember our lost son. All of these flowers and others share special ground. This ground was worked over and organized by our family and friends the minute the weather grew warm enough the spring he died. They came bearing seeds of every shape and size. They came with work gloves and wheelbarrows. They rode over on their bikes with their children to dig in the dirt and make something special. In one weekend, they gave us a memorial to our son. It was the best gift. Their time and attention. They didn't have to tell us how sorry they were or try to think of the right thing to say. Just being with us and helping with the project was what we needed. I'll never forget the joy of watering those new plantings. The thrill of watching flowers grow from seeds! Real plants! Plants that were hearty and strong the minute they were planted, just like our Carter.<br />
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My pregnancy with Carter was a dream. I knew precisely how long I had to wait to take the pregnancy test, but I knew it would be good. The closer the day came, I knew I'd be happily telling Michael our dream had finally come true. He didn't even know I was taking the test. I woke up to get ready for school, and my hands shook as I went into the bathroom. The positive was as clear as day. I was going to be a mom. It was only 6am, so even though it was good news, I knew better than to wake Michael with it. So, for a few hours I knew the secret, and no one else did. I got a shower and made breakfast. I didn't make lunch. A day like today called for a fast food treat! (I know, terrible food for growing babies, but one of my worst habits.)<br />
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Finally, I had to go to work, so I woke Michael and handed him a bib that said, "I love Daddy." I stood there waiting for a reaction. I'm pretty sure he was still asleep. I had to spell it out for him. We're going to be parents! He was sleepy, but happy. An email later in the day told me how thrilled he was and that he was dazed by the news. We were very happy.<br />
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I never got sick. I felt strong and alive. I loved being pregnant. I felt like I had joined a special club. A knowing smile between myself and other moms or pregnant ladies made my day. We shopped for furniture. We talked about names.<br />
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Then, my brother suddenly became very ill. I remember being at the hospital while he was in surgery and patting my pregnant belly for comfort. My dad remarked that he could tell I was awfully proud of it. It was nice having Carter with me on that day. Then, just as suddenly, my brother was gone. It was unbearable to watch my parents grieve. The one thing that helped all of us was Carter. They had a wonderful grandson to think about and plan for. It didn't make my brother less gone, but it made life easier to get through.<br />
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The week of his funeral, we got to go to the doctor for the sonogram to find out the gender of our baby. Michael and I were in the doctor's office as the screen filled with our baby. Michael held my hand. The doctor easily found what he needed to see, and said, "It's a boy!" Michael squeezed my hand, and I cried. It was so great. We picked his name on the elevator ride after. It was that easy. Carter Austin Ross. We held hands the whole time.<br />
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Michael immediately took the sonogram picture to have copies made and sent them to relatives. The grandparents bought a cake! It was a great day despite the fact that my brother's funeral was the next day. It was even the first day Michael could feel the baby move as he put his hand on my belly.<br />
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Michael and Carter got me through the funeral. Michael even read the eulogy we had written even though he hates talking in front of large groups. We really were a family. We did hard things together and made each other smile.<br />
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I never worried for one minute about Carter. It was a joyous 7 months. Even the day we found out we had lost him started out light. I was simply getting my gestational diabetes test and a routine check-up. I never imagined the day would end like it did.<br />
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I try very hard to focus on the good. Carter's life was brief but very happy. He brought joy to many people. Jack and Alex have a very special guardian angel looking over them.<br />
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But, it's hard for me not to focus on the bad. For some reason my brain gets started on a bad road, and I can't stop it. I'll remember one detail of the day we lost him, and then it tumbles on from there. I can't stop the flood. Every single moment comes back. I remember telling my parents and feeling like I had just crushed their faith. I cry for my students who had to learn far too young that babies can die. The mental picture of our friends at our house after the funeral reminds me of the dear friend who was secretly pregnant at the time but had to hold it in because of our news. I can see Michael's heartbroken face as he and I held Carter in my hospital room. And then I just cry.<br />
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I don't know what today will bring. I hope I can focus on the good because we have so much of it. I'm worried that the stress of moving will make this a hard year. We are pretty worn out, and it takes energy to be a parent who has faced lose and gone on. Even five years later.Rosstwinmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00020520796909367711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1058649413533937039.post-607251422339033172011-03-06T13:15:00.000-06:002011-03-06T13:15:19.108-06:00A Really Important Message From the HeartWriting is a love of mine. I wish I had more courage to pursue it further, but for now, I enjoy my chance to blog and be snarky on Facebook. What I really wish to do some day is write something that matters to just one other person. To get just one other person to nod their head while they are reading because they have felt what I felt. To get just one person to see things differently. Maybe even get someone to think about things they've never pondered before. (No big deal. Just a small dream I have.)<br />
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To be a good writer, I believe you have to read a lot. I read books, magazines, on line articles, and blogs. Some of my favorite blogs are written by other mothers. Motherhood is such a tough and great thing. There are as many different views and opinions as there are mothers. I think it does us all good to read or hear why another mom does what she does or thinks what she thinks. We may not all agree, but we can all learn from each other.<br />
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And sometimes when I read, I read to find someone whose heart has hurt like mine. Reading the intimate fears and concerns of another person can make you feel like fast friends. It is through this kind of writing that I found the <a href="http://mamapundit.com/">mamapundit</a> blog. Katie is the mother of five and works outside the home. She is a strong advocate of attachment parenting and lives in Knoxville, TN. She is funny and truthful. She seems kind. <br />
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Unfortunately she belongs to one of the worst clubs-Parents Who Have Lost Children. It is a sucky club; trust me, but when you meet another member, you take on their child as another angel to pray for. And today I'm asking you to pray for Katie's lost son, Henry.<br />
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Please read as much as you can on her site. Henry was a beautiful boy (Yes, at 18, still a boy) who lost a terrible fight with drug addiction. Katie and the rest of his family knows his choices led him down the path he was on, but he is not solely to blame for his death. See, there are people in this world who are just looking for sweet kids like Henry who are struggling. These people do not see them as someone's son, just as another user. So, they figure it's okay to take advantage of them. And in Henry's case, they gambled right because not only are they getting away with their part in his tragedy, they even have the police calling them 'Good Samaritans' when they are in fact purveyors of nasty things. These people need to be stopped for Henry and for the next son or daughter they may come in contact with. <br />
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Please read and share this story. It is up to us to protect our kids. Even the ones who make mistakes.Rosstwinmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00020520796909367711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1058649413533937039.post-25681443966960389682011-02-23T02:05:00.001-06:002011-02-23T02:07:55.602-06:00Episode 3: Magic SnowI was trying to think of a clever title for this post, but all I could think of were a song from Xanadu and the tag-line from the Lucky Charms commercial. Both were deemed <strike>stupid</strike> inappropriate. So, I'm just going to go with reality. Today I saw magic snow.<br />
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On Monday, the boys and I wanted to take a walk. In the morning, the sun was shining so the snow on the ground did not seem to be a problem. We are trying to be local! When the sun shines, you go outside. No matter what. <br />
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Well, through no fault of laziness on the part of me, we didn't make it out before lunch and nap. We had to go after nap. By then it was early evening and not sunny. It was cold. We had the wrong set of keys to get out our walk-up gate. We had to be let out by a kindly neighbor. The boys longed to climb the hills and defile the not-walked-on snow. We were not dressed in any way appropriately, so I had to promise another try on Tuesday.<br />
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I geared the boys up much better. Long-johns, snow bibs, scarves, snow boots, jackets, water resistant gloves, hats, and hoods from their coats.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzB_0C2TwBYB6w4ZJOOZEaXk4DKsYwYDnQgBs4w1T9eqGg85uIA0cItQe_X_DZ32ZDrQw0zhWFKyiZmb9_ki_M9tpiDTwcqGoAQuXmKiJ6dA8_ShpOqtEdZD3NkAUTiAZZ2ob8oUsR0Eov/s1600/IMG_3561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzB_0C2TwBYB6w4ZJOOZEaXk4DKsYwYDnQgBs4w1T9eqGg85uIA0cItQe_X_DZ32ZDrQw0zhWFKyiZmb9_ki_M9tpiDTwcqGoAQuXmKiJ6dA8_ShpOqtEdZD3NkAUTiAZZ2ob8oUsR0Eov/s320/IMG_3561.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We got outside, and it was sunny but snowing. As we walked I realized the snow was different than any other snow I'd been in before. It was literally like glitter falling from the sky. The effect was dazzling. The new snow that was landing on the snow already on the ground shone like diamond chips. We had to stop and stare at it. I was awestruck.<br />
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I couldn't quite catch the effect on camera, though I tried. It really made me pause and marvel. It was also surreal because the whole time we walked I could hear the sea birds calling to each other. My brain has limited knowledge of snow, so it really caught me to hear birds associated with water and see snow falling at the same time. I don't put those two things together naturally.<br />
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The boys finally got to roll around in the soft, white snow. They climbed hills and learned not to touch the yellow parts. Eventually (fairly soon, actually) Mommy got cold. Though they were dressed well; I was not. I need some fur-lined boots pronto! We headed home at a maddeningly slow pace. No one on Earth walks slower than my kids. They pause to look at everything and ask questions. Very cute but almost led to frost bite.<br />
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It was very pretty and magical. It was a nice break from my efforts to get us settled and living here. Enjoy more pics of the boys having fun!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0xsVl7oEIMm1obFiCszq6NA2Qim97sfTPmOFF8NvKCYDle3z6ddhsZKBG0EJS-iDloi1425aiEOwV8nFT145YFRIoBGi4WCf4uW7DtLEjDr-aLfdWfaQX4Sg79AVUgXZQz6D1I84JlO6/s1600/IMG_3587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0xsVl7oEIMm1obFiCszq6NA2Qim97sfTPmOFF8NvKCYDle3z6ddhsZKBG0EJS-iDloi1425aiEOwV8nFT145YFRIoBGi4WCf4uW7DtLEjDr-aLfdWfaQX4Sg79AVUgXZQz6D1I84JlO6/s320/IMG_3587.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9mltwRVYnKN1y9lZaiaq52P64Gq5fOS0goyk5taeVWcJgkTqGJ7Ml85MRhbzrWFhXvid2jLSXWUaapl7TM_rVawF7wTEhPE65IkABxsPGPKo8l0RXRUNAgV7tmPkovnuKXaNRSdtNnl9/s1600/IMG_3589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9mltwRVYnKN1y9lZaiaq52P64Gq5fOS0goyk5taeVWcJgkTqGJ7Ml85MRhbzrWFhXvid2jLSXWUaapl7TM_rVawF7wTEhPE65IkABxsPGPKo8l0RXRUNAgV7tmPkovnuKXaNRSdtNnl9/s320/IMG_3589.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Yep, that's a sign to pick up after your dogs! </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26pXu2GAYLH9eqdGpABESW7Vkxwj9RGsPICLjq7ZwiEg4p245vk8glzdsPIA4NBxS8KRrvpt9XLRFR1vWLSg1UYBDauCFMkfwipnRwtbnjz8Z6FZ4nzQNX40_NZMp3I8Djwhx9O03XHvX/s1600/IMG_3591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26pXu2GAYLH9eqdGpABESW7Vkxwj9RGsPICLjq7ZwiEg4p245vk8glzdsPIA4NBxS8KRrvpt9XLRFR1vWLSg1UYBDauCFMkfwipnRwtbnjz8Z6FZ4nzQNX40_NZMp3I8Djwhx9O03XHvX/s320/IMG_3591.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYzIWvXmgs1bbUlRQP_G3gXy9Oi8xO-e5VGQPE4fX2AMEslmyDrSP4IM7arlMkz519iCfCsv3jDWWtKMWTrghy8_A5ZqY2tWuJ2-JzaNFDUkMBljDThAL2p3NHgJYyy32q6Sfwd3vIaEE/s1600/IMG_3594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYzIWvXmgs1bbUlRQP_G3gXy9Oi8xO-e5VGQPE4fX2AMEslmyDrSP4IM7arlMkz519iCfCsv3jDWWtKMWTrghy8_A5ZqY2tWuJ2-JzaNFDUkMBljDThAL2p3NHgJYyy32q6Sfwd3vIaEE/s320/IMG_3594.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We came; we saw; we conquered.</div>Rosstwinmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00020520796909367711noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1058649413533937039.post-52604407709528560812011-02-18T08:31:00.000-06:002011-02-18T08:31:18.927-06:00Episode 2: Time to learn the ABC's of Poland!I'm here. We moved. To Poland. In winter. With twin three-year-olds. Nana and Grandpa are long gone.<br />
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We are in our apartment with beds and food and real life and such. I'm so sorry I haven't posted since we got here. Or even about the flight from Texas! I'm pretty busy and tired. So, today's post is a bit of info about Jolly Ol' Poland and how we're doing. My format is inspired by <a href="http://blogs.babble.com/baby-squared/2011/02/17/my-own-personal-abcs/">Jane Roper</a>, a favorite blogger of mine who is giving me permission to steal her stolen idea instead of using my own brain for creativity and also who inspired me to actually get down to writing today!<br />
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So, without further ado, here are the ABC's of Poland:<br />
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A--Adorable. That's what the boys are when they say things like, "We live by the sea," or "I want to walk in the forest!" Or when they say the city we live in (Gdynia, for those who would like to know).<br />
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B--Boots. So glad I bought 2 pair and packed a third. We wear them every day. Rain boots. Snow boots. Sassy boots. The women here wear sassy boots with heels and skinny jeans every day. Even in snow. They have the legs and butts for it, so I do not begrudge them this habit even though I am jealous.<br />
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C--Cozy. Our apartment is feeling like home. The boys' room especially is warm and inviting. I think they are really happy with it. They happily play in there and love their cool Ikea beds with tents. <br />
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D--Dryer. We have a machine that is both a washer and a dryer. My mom swears it uses water to dry...like steaming or something. I'm getting used to using it. All clothes have to go on a drying rack after though. It would literally take about 4 hours to wash and completely dry something in the machine. Ours is super nice though. It does really great on my sweaters. We are wearing clothes more before washing them since it is very small. Do I stink? Wait, don't answer that.<br />
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E--English. I miss it! It is very isolating to not speak the language of those around you. i am in a crowd but not really a part of it. It makes me feel very protective of my family since we are each other's allies. My boys need some little people to talk to!<br />
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F--Friends. I miss mine.<br />
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G--Groceries. One of the most frustrating things for me. Obviously the language barrier is tough. The other tough part is not having the luxury of strolling through the store to get my bearings. The boys are usually with me, and if they aren't, I still have to rush to get home to help with them or get dinner going. I really need to learn some Polish or get a friend who can take me and help. Or, a nanny to watch the boys!<br />
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H--Husband. My parents both told me many times before they left that Michael and I had to lean on each other and help each other get through the tough stuff. It is very true. Without us working as a team, this would be impossible.<br />
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I--Ikea. It sounded so easy. After my one and only visit to Poland to see if I might like living here, I told everyone I knew about the Ikea being here and being my easy option for all household goods. I now never want to go in that store again. It's fun to pick out a house full of furniture on The Sims. You just click and place. In real life, you write things down, you ask for help from people who don't always speak your language. You hunt for boxes. You try to keep your kids from losing their minds and going ape-crazy in the store. You have to eat because you're always there during a meal. You have to shuffle 2 or 3 or 4 carts to check out. You get stared at for that. Then, you have to have it delivered because no car in Europe can hold all that stuff. Then you put it together. Repeat 6,000 times. We never had time to stop and think about our purchases. It was go-time all the time. It is no fun shopping like that.<br />
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J--Jack! He is blossoming here. I think his eastern European roots are really shining through. My how his Bubbie would be proud. The kid is eating me out of house and home. He is very silly and happy. He knows we live here now. He's okay with it. Although, at the beginning, he was so funny about this whole geography thing. Whenever we got more than 10 minutes away from our apartment, he asked when we were going back to Poland.<br />
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K--Ketchup. It ain't free or easy to get people! Seriously, you have to pay for it with your meal at Ikea. At McDonald's, they give you one packet! Please! We are going to start carrying a bottle with us.<br />
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L--Language. Did I mention I'm lost without English? Everything is in Polish. All signs. All labels. Foods that have other languages on them usually have languages like German and Russian. I have no idea what food I'm buying because I can't be a freaky label-checker like I was before. Trans fats can be in all my foods for all I know. I'm happy when I buy tomato soup instead of beet soup. (They are both red, you know!)<br />
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M-- Muzeum Marynarki Wojennej w Gdyni. This is a museum close to the beach and pier in downtown Gydnia. Is it a cool museum? I have no idea. I can tell you the docent at the front was very nice this past Sunday when the boys and I came in and asked if she knew the number to call a taxi. Of course she spoke very little English. But she helped me by finding the number and talking to the dispatcher. Why did we need a taxi? Well, I got all fancy and walked with the boys from our apartment to the beach. It was 0 Celsius out and the sun was shining on the snow. We needed fresh air, and I wanted to see if there was a way to walk to the playground near the pier. There was. The playground was big and fun. It was packed. (I fear the warm weather will be so enticing when it comes that it will be a madhouse of kids.) The boys did play though. We had our snow boots on and were ready. We just weren't ready to go back up the huge hill. They both were crying. Michael wasn't answering my calls because he was taking out the trash. I cried. I said some very unhelpful things about never getting home again. The boys cried harder. I decided to get a taxi! I had seen one a minute ago. It was gone. None were coming. The boys wailed, "We're NEVER going to get a taxi and get home now!" That's when I dragged us to the museum. The taxi was called just as Michael called me back and came to our rescue.<br />
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N--Nuggets. Yes, we still eat them every other day. Kids are kids are kids.<br />
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O--Ocean. Okay, it's really the Baltic Sea. But you can see it from several windows in our apartment. It's really neat. Except for the sea birds. Gross and scary. My worst fear must be faced. Birds.<br />
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P--Perogi! I love, love, love these. They are popular here. My favorite are the ones with cheese, potatoes, and onions in them. You bake them in butter. Ahhhhh...a butter bath....<br />
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Q--Quest. Right now it is a quest for sleep and patience. Soon I hope to march all over Poland and eastern Europe in a quest to enjoy this opportunity and give my kids 2 years that many other kids don't get.<br />
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R--Recordings. Yes, I watched the new Survivor this week. Just later than you. I am enjoying the Slingbox. Michael is still tweaking it to make it even more user friendly, but so far it has helped me have a time to unwind.<br />
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S--Stairs. Man we climb stairs. To our apartment. To the beach. To everywhere. Dear God, please let the stairs magically take away my mommy pouch and my saggy thighs.<br />
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T--Toys. The boys need their stuff! Thank goodness the boat should come next week with the 11 carefully packed boxes of toys. Then maybe they can build a train track and leave me alone. I mean, enjoy them. I'm fine with them needing me in the same room at all times. Really. I swear!<br />
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U--Useful. That word barely describes how my parents were when they were here to get us settled. They did everything we asked and more! Not exaggerating to say we could not have gotten settled without them. Now I'm going to cry because I miss them.<br />
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V--Views. We got 'em. I love our windows and what I see. One of my favorites is a night view of this church. The steeple is all lit up and catches my eye even if I'm just passing by. It really calms me too. I also like looking at all the other buildings around. I assume they are all multi-family units like ours, but I don't know. There is a lot of variety and lots of trees and gardens. I can only guess how great it will all look in the spring.<br />
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W--Why? Why? But, why? Seriously, why? I'm living with two incessant quiz masters.<br />
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X--Does not exist. As in, it is not a letter in the Polish alphabet. So, my son's name becomes Aleks instead of Alex.<br />
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Y--"Yes or no?" Alex has been saying this a lot. I know he got it from me. I am very impatient sometimes and get tired of 2 preschoolers winding their way to an answer. So, Alex has adopted it too. "Mommy, are we having ice cream for deezert(how Alex says it, not Polish), Yes or No?"<br />
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Z--Three. As in, there are 3 versions in the Polish alphabet. Zoinks!Rosstwinmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00020520796909367711noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1058649413533937039.post-15169695557983734532011-01-07T21:42:00.000-06:002011-01-07T21:42:34.124-06:00Episode 1: Meet the CastMost, if not all, of you reading this know me. I've begged you to read this. Pleaded with you to tell me how clever and funny it is. For those that accidentally found me, here is the exposition to my little story:<br />
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My name is Stephanie. I'm in my thirties (late or early? none ya business). I am married to my best friend, Michael. It was pretty much love and like at first sight. I met him through a friend from school. I am a 7th grade English teacher by trade. Currently, I'm out of that profession because I get to stay at home with our wonderful twins, Jack and Alex. <br />
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We currently live in Texas but are about to make a big change! Nope, not more kids. That would be insane. Seriously.<br />
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We are moving to Poland!<br />
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The country! Not a weirdly-named city in Texas. The real country a gazillion miles from here. A place I've only been to once to decide if I liked it enough to move there. Crazy, huh? But that's how we roll in our house.<br />
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Well, to be honest, not really. I'm pretty much a routine and order kind of girl despite my senior year in college and the escapades that may or may not have really happened then. My kids know we are getting snack every day at 10. They know we do pizza once a week for dinner, and it comes from Papa John's. They also know they will be eating the leftovers of that pizza at school one day. Because the other day is peanut butter samiches. (Not because of a strict need to eat the same food every week but because I have no idea what else to make them.)<br />
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So, this is scaring me to death at the same time it is emboldening me and intriguing me. There are so many great things to look forward to. Travel. Super-cool city living in an apartment. Snow (For two years it's a good thing, any longer and I get crabby.). Beaches within walking distance. New friends. New language. Some of those pros are also cons. The snow thing comes with cold. I love my old friends. I love English because I speak it so goodly. Sand is itchy. Also, I am leaving my parents. They adore my sons. My sons love them with all their hearts. I love the whole damn situation. I'm leaving so many great friends and a few who I just need to see and/or talk to to be level and sane. We are coming back. They do use email regularly. We can do visits via Skype. But it's not the same. They know it, and I know it.<br />
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This story is starting a new season (that's right, like a TV show). I'm hoping you enjoy it, and that you'll tune in often to see what's happening.Rosstwinmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00020520796909367711noreply@blogger.com3