Just wanted to write about the boys and what they’re up to. Their most recent thing that cracks me up is if one of them does something bad like throw a toy and the other one saw it, the one who saw it will say “timeout” and the one who did the bad thing will say “no timeout” and they will go back and forth and back and forth until something else distracts them or I jump in. I don’t like to jump in because it’s hilarious, them policing themselves. But no one actually goes into timeout. Sometimes when Elijah is really worked up and timeout is over, he will get very upset that you opened the door. HE wants to tell you when timeout is over, not the other way around. Which, by the way, is 10 seconds longer than what you thought it was. Rowan is mad at himself for doing something that requires timeout and the only thing he wants when he comes out is a hug and assurance that everything is ok.

They also like to hug and sometimes kiss (because those two go hand in hand in this household). It’s not often that they both agree to hug. Sometimes one wants one and the other one doesn’t. I used to make them hug after one of them hits the other, and the person who was hit rejects the hug and it makes the situation worse because then both of them are crying.

We went to our first movie this past Sunday - Mr. Bean. It was hell getting them there. We took the train and Elijah was just not cooperating. I assured Michael that it will be ok once we get seated. Elijah refused to sit in the chair, so he sat on the stairs next to the chairs and watched from there. I don’t know why because the view from there was worse. I think he just didn’t want to give in and say that he likes going to the movies. Rowan sat nicely for the most part but then started to get antsy. Thank goodness the theater was empty and didn’t really bother anyone. We actually enjoyed the movie, Mr. Bean is hilarious and some of the situations that he was in was so funny. We couldn’t stay until the end, the boys just didn’t want to sit that long, so Michael took them out while I stayed 5 minutes longer to find out what happened. They almost made it though, so it was worth it. We were all exhausted when we came home. I’m so happy I didn’t do this by myself! I think if it was an animated movie, they would’ve stayed until the end. And usually animated films are shorter. We’ll try again soon.

As for me, in addition to knitting, I pulled out the sewing machine again. It’s amazing how easily you forget how to use it. I had to relearn how to do everything, had to set the tension again, figure out how to wind the bobbins, how to thread the machine, etc. But I was determined and started sewing these little sushi project bags. They are perfect to hold a small knitting project in.

I also read the last Harry Potter. Great book, kinda sad that it’s over.

We have a few visitors lined up. This weekend, our friends Alex and Summer are coming along with their baby, Max. Then in August we are going to have Aidan and possibly Theron. Then in September, Bob and Mardi. Really looking forward to it!

We have this little splash pool that we set up for relief from the heat. The boys love playing in the pool, but their favorite thing is “waterfall”. Since we have to fill up the pool using a bucket going from kitchen sink to outside, we found that they liked to get in the stream. That’s how they learned the word!

So, today we had an interview with our #1 choice for kindergarten and it went as well as could be. They are also interviewing several other families, so please send us whatever spare positive thoughts you have!!! We REALLY want to get in here.

Here are some videos of the boys doing their latest thing. Do you know “Here’s the church, here’s the steeple, open the door, where’s the people”?

Wow, I think this is the biggest break I’ve had since I’ve started the blog. But it doesn’t mean I wasn’t blogging! I’ve been busy knitting away so it only seems appropriate that I’ve been knit blogging more. OK, a LOT! I’ve even become a podcaster with some knitter friends!

My parents were here for a visit for a month and you would think that I would have the time to do stuff like post pictures or write a post but no, I didn’t. We did manage to do a lot of stuff. We went to Italy and stayed at the posh Cavallino Bianco hotel, the same kinderhotel that we stayed at last year. It was a lot of fun. It was nice to have my parents there too. We had a lot of fun taking them to “school” every morning. The first day was a nightmare, but surprisingly, after that it was fine. It wasn’t easy in the hotel room - now that they are more mobile and active, it took a long time for them to go to bed. They enjoyed the pool a lot. So much so that I’m looking into swimming lessons for them in the fall. Rowan even went down the slide with Michael 3 times and he would come out disoriented but wanted to go again. Elijah would go to the top of the slide but then quickly turn around. The kids play areas are just fantastic, the best we’ve ever seen! The mascot is Lino the mouse and every day he would make an appearance and it scared the boys in the beginning, but then later they looked forward to seeing him. We even took a horse and carriage ride through the beautiful valley that was fun too.

We also went to Heidelberg to visit a friend. The town itself is too touristy, but it had a really nice street filled with little shops. My mom bought 1 euro cars for the boys and they played with them non-stop. They really liked to throw them on the ground and watch it fall apart and then cry when it couldn’t be put back together. We had a nightmare of a time getting back. The boys were tired so we decided to go back early, it cost us 50 euros to change, then we missed the connecting train, so we had to go to another station and then finally catch the train to Munich. The boys were so tired that they fell asleep while I carried them. But not before screaming and crying and throwing a fit. Elijah was so tired that at one point he just lied down on the ground in the middle of the street (pedestrian street) and my dad just stood over him waiting for him to be done. He refused to move. So many people stopped and asked if he was ok and my dad had to say “yes, yes, he’s fine” but of course they didn’t believe him. When I caught up with them, I saw Elijah and he really looked like he passed out. So many people were just staring… Then I said “milk!” and his little head popped up, he got up so quickly and came into starbucks for his milk. Then fell asleep in the chair. Poor baby. Heidelberg was also so hot and muggy and our hotel had no air conditioning, so it was almost unbearable. We had to keep the windows open for the air to circulate and so it was so loud and the boys stayed up until midnight because they were so happy to be out with the adults. So even less sleep. But then we went home and everything was fine. Thank god I brought the laptop and Nemo, what a lifesaver! We even managed to get a 1st class cabin on the train because the operator felt bad for us having screaming unhappy kids!!! At least there’s THAT!

Michael and I also took a vacation of our own. It is really rare for us to have overnight babysitting, so we took advantage of it. We went to the Cinque Terre area in Italy. It was also super hot there. But at least the Italians know how to serve cold drinks! We hiked between the 5 towns and stayed at two of them. We were going to stay there the last night but decided to head back where there were less tourists. Cinque Terre was just super packed with Americans, thanks to Rick Steves! I saw more Americans there than I have my whole time I’ve been in Munich. Seriously. It was a beautiful and very photogenic place, but I’d rather spend time in the dolomites where it is “unspoiled” by too many tourists. And also people speak German there. We were complete idiots when it came to speaking Italian, it was so embarrassing that we had to speak English. Oh well.

In Bolzano we went to the Messner Mountain Museum, which is something we’ve been wanting to do for awhile. When we originally came here in 2001, we were thinking about it (at the time they didn’t have one in Bolzano, only in Juval, which is 30 minutes away by car). Last year, the museum in Bolano opened so we went to that one. And after being there only minutes, guess who we saw? Reinhold Messner himself!!! We were so blown away that THE MAN was actually there. We were the only ones acting like teeny-bopper teenagers spotting a celebrity. Everyone else was like ‘whatever’! Even the people sitting right next to him had no idea who he was, which we thought was so funny. We wanted to get a picture with him, but he was eating lunch so we didn’t disturb him. The museum was very neatly laid out - all within a castle. I was too hot to go up and down stairs, so I just went through parts of it. But Michael was in heaven - THIS is a museum he can handle! He knew so many of the people on the walls - not personally, of course, and he thought it was so neat that they have a place there.

Those were the big things that happened. As for the boys, they are talking more but I’m still concerned that they’re way behind so I set up a doctor’s appointment to get their speech evaluated. Still have no kindergarten place yet… :( The boys called my parents both “papa” even though we tried to get them to say “grandma”. Rowan would sometimes, but then always revert to “papa”. My poor mom! But it was funny.

Oh it was so nice to have them here, they would get up with the boys and let me do whatever. My dad would cook all the time. My mom would do all the boys’ laundry and give them baths. I don’t think I even changed a dirty diaper during their stay! My dad would go out for long walks and come home and over exaggerate how far he walked. Towards the end, he started riding my bike and going even further. The first time he went out with my bike, he was only supposed to go out for 30 minutes. But then it was an hour and a half and we started to get worried. He didn’t know my address, phone number, nothing. So we were going to wait 30 more minutes before we would call the police. 10 minutes later he shows up! We were so relieved!!! We meant to go to a movie with the boys but didn’t. I never got up early enough to get them ready.

What else…I guess that’s it. I’ll try to be better about blogging!!! But I always say that…