Ode to Summer, Mom Style

Simple things, like a blow up pool in the backyard, will keep these little tikes happy for hours

As a kid/teenager, I LOVED summer.  It was by far the happiest time of the year.  No school, no schedule, long hot days, wandering up and down the street with my friends… we'd entertain ourselves for hours.  We'd go to the rope swing at the canal, we'd rollerblade to Albertson's to rent a "scary" movie, we'd have sleepovers on each other's trampolines under a star filled sky… and the highlights of summer were always Girl's Camp and Youth Conference.  Now that I look back on it, the way we spent our time required no planning or orchestrating by my parents (unless they had callings in the youth program).  We didn't even really go on any summer vacations as most of our family trips, which were never too far from home, took place over fall break in October. 

So, you would think as a mother of three, that long relaxing summers would just be a sweet memory of the past.  I mean, I don't feel that huge relief of finishing the school year, I still have to change diapers, wipe up messes, mop floors, and prepare meals. AND do the dishes.  But, I be wrong.  I'm discovering that summer be a little bit magical even for a mom.  

Here's what I'm loving:

1. I don't have to get up early and get Emily off to school. This is soooo nice.  My kids can sleep as long as they want!  Which means I can sleep in too.  If I want to get up early to exercise or read my scriptures… awesome.  If I would rather snooze in a little bit later… awesome too.

2.  Don't' have to worry about a set bedtime.  No stressing that the kids have to be to bed by 8:00.  During the school year it is difficult because Ben typically gets home around 7… so it's hurry up and eat, and send the kids straight to bed.  Now we can take our time eating, or the kids can play outside late,  we can bbq with friends or go to a biergarten and stay as late as we want… no worries.

3.  My kids do chores.  Emily is a great help at home, but during the school year it was hard to place more responsibilities on her.  I mean, she goes to a full day of school, and then often times has either dance, violin, or homework after school, and I still need to carve out time for her to play outside and be a kid!  So, she usually didn't have chores during the school year.  Now that she has wide open days, she can make her bed, clean the bathroom, unload the dishwasher, etc.  And C is right there beside her happily scrubbing toilets (when will they realize scrubbing toilets is NOT fun?)

4.  When 2:30 rolls around, I don't have to put on my fresh mama face and gear up for Em's arrival and subsequent homework and music practice.  Ahhh, this is so nice.  In fact, at 2:00 these days J is napping, the girls are happily playing (since they've had a full morning of chores, music practice, and reading), and I am curled up on the couch with a book.  Bliss.

5.  Being outside.  Long warm days are enjoyable no matter what your age.  I love that Germany does not get too hot in the summer.  The month of June has mostly been in the sixties and seventies (although next week it's going to really heat up!)  Living on base lends itself to playground time, bike time, scooter time, etc.  I don't have to look too far to entertain the troops.  Also, there are some wonderful pools nearby for those occasional super warm days. And being at the pool is a nice outing if you have another friend squatted on a towel nearby to chat with. 

And last but not least, I have more time to read!  Reading is what keeps my insanity as a mom.  Since my full time job tends to be very physical… wipe up messes, fold laundry, sweet floor, etc… it is so nice to delve into a book and let my brain actually absorb and process and analyze and let my soul be edified!  My brother challenged us all to read the Book of Mormon this summer.  It's been great, even though I'm already behind schedule.  And I'm also reading Delivered From Evil… a comprehensive history of WWII. It's a beast, but if I only read ten pages a day, I will have it done by the end of summer.  I love it!

Half Marathon and Swiss Cows

Before the race with my dear friend Shannon.  Ready to go with smiles on our faces.  Yeah, that won't last. 

So, I ran my first half-marathon a few weeks ago.  First AND last.

It was in central Switzerland, near Lucerne, around a lake called Sempachersee.   Yeah, I had never heard of it either.  It wasn't in the mighty Alps like you might think, it being Switzerland and all, but the Sempachersee is nestled in the gentle, rolling countryside. Sempachersee wasn't as strikingly gorgeous as Lake Garda, Italy last October, but it was still beautiful in a very understated and peaceful way.  And it was flat.  You can't beat that!

Here are a few thoughts on this race:

It was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be.  Two weeks earlier I ran 11 miles in 1:32.  I thought I was well positioned to do the half in 1:50.  But, first off, what is the deal with having to run in a stampede?  The first couple miles I couldn't go faster even though I wanted to. I was completely surrounded by other runners and there's no way to pass.  Finally, at about mile two or three, it started to thin out and I could set my own pace.  I've decided I'm not keen on running with others….  it kind of messes up my groove.  I did the first three miles in 23 something, fives miles at 40 something… and it just got slower from there... seven miles at 58 something… and then I lost track after that. The middle of the race was the hardest part for me.  I started to feel sluggish and slowed my pace. And then around mile nine or ten the cramps hit.  It's really hard to run when your gut is tied up in knots. It literally felt like pregnancy contractions.  And the Europeans don't believe in porta-potties.  The last three or four miles I just wanted to quit, but I pushed through and finished the race in 1:57:12, which actually surprised me.  I thought I was over two hours.  Even though I didn't achieve my goal, my friend who is a half marathon pro said my goal was probably unrealistic for a first timer.  So, I'm satisfied.

  This go around was a lot more fun because I had a friend there beside me.  Shannon moved onto RB last summer and she's been a godsend!  For whatever reason, I've had a more difficult time making friends here in Stuttgart than at any other duty station (maybe I'm just SUPER weird and don't know it??)  So, Shannon was a literal answer to prayers.   

Nope, not weird. 

Running with the herd

And it was fun to have my family there… even though Ben was a little overwhelmed with all the kiddos at the finish line.  It was a little anti-climatic when I crossed and no one was there… I found all the kids oblivious at the bouncy castle while Ben was looking for me in the wrong place.  Ah well.  

I found this gem on the race website.  I look like a corpse.   The couple behind me, on the other hand...

I realize these are the least flattering pictures in the world… but I'm posting them proudly any way… CROSSING THE LINE.  

Finished!  And lived to tell the tale.  And thankfully the color came back to my face.

So, here's the rest of the weekend.  Ben had both Friday and Monday off, so we took full advantage. 

First, Rhinefalls…The Rhine River's point of origin is at some glacier in Switzerland, and then it goes through Germany and empties out in the North Sea (I think the Netherlands?) Rhine Falls is the largest waterfall in Europe. It was fun!

Shannon's husband was TDY, so she brought a friend from church to help with her four kids.  

We stayed at a farm.  This was the best part of the trip.  Check out Hans the farmer, literally running from the cows. 

Caroline LOVED feeding the cows.

The cute abode where we stayed

Chocolate factory tour was a HUGE hit… mostly because we got to sample unlimited amounts of Swiss chocolate.  And we got to make our own chocolate bar (at an additional cost, of course). 

You pushed the donkey's nose and he spat out a golden chocolate coin.  GOLDEN.

Lucerne itself:

We did the golden ticket round trip which took us on a boat ride across Lake Lucerne, up the steepest cogwheel in the world to Mt. Pilatus, and then down a cable car back to Lucerne.  It was beautiful but very touristy.  I know I'm a tourist, so why do I get so bugged by other tourists?

And then, yeah, the summit was enshrouded with fog.  But at least Shannon entertained the troops by putting bread on the kids' heads.

At the rodelbahn… beautiful area but the ride was a complete FAIL.  I've never waited in line so long for a rodelbahn.  Way too many tourists.  

On the way home we took the LONG route home, through France, to stop by the American cemetery outside Epinal (which also happens to be an area from my mission).  This was Ben's idea, because he wanted to honor Memorial Day.  It was great. 

This was a very moving exhibition done by some French elementary students thanking the U.S. service members for liberating France.  So cool to know they are passing this history down to the rising generations.

Thanks Grandpa Shaha for his amazing pacifier.  He looks very dapper in it.