Week 11 - the Last Week of Solo Blaylocks

This week began our last week as solo Blaylock's in Munich! It's hard to believe we're half way through August and about to go home. It seems like FOREVER and at the same time the end is quickly approaching. We made the most out of our week together and enjoyed more of what Munich has to offer. Monday started with a couple new parks. We traveled via train and then started walking and my GPS told me to start going up these stairs into the wilderness. I was grateful Jay was able to walk up them and I was very sweaty by the time we navigated all the way to the top of the hill. The park was in a beautiful area! The water was of course a hit, it pooled in one spot and that's mainly where the boys and all the other kids wanted to play. The park was a little more spread out so I took a middle stance and watched Hugh on one side and Jay on the other. Jay having a bright coral swim shirt is a saving grace for me. I can quickly spot him and he did much better with his kid to kid interactions which helped put me at ease. We found an alternate route back to the train station and stopped at a park right outside to be able to add another to our list. Jay went down the slide and ran around a little bit, but was very tired so we didn't stay long. I think I started to sweat while walking up the hill that morning and didn't stop sweating until about 9 PM when it finally started to cool down. This week has been hot and humid and we've been missing AC and good fans. One thing I've also missed is a vacuum! The floor gets so dirty and they never do a great job vacuuming. When we got home from the park, the vacuum was right outside our door so I hijacked it and vacuumed our house. It felt so much better! 

I was very tired by the time we got to the top!

Jay must have noticed because he pushed the stroller for me.

Slide!

In the very distant background you can see Matthew's office, very cool!

Hugh loves throwing his head back and enjoying the swing, sometimes it's a little scary

Jay thought climbing the tree was so cool!

Hugh loved this little slide and did it over and over again

Water fun! 

When you need a vacuum, you need a vacuum!

Tuesday morning Jay was up very early, about 4:30. We hoped he would go to sleep, but he was up and ready to go. I knew he'd be tired, so I chose a park with some familiarity. We went to the park our first couple weeks here when Jay didn't really have his German park legs and bravery. He totally rocked the playground! He was able to do everything! He was a little shy about the slide, but once he sent his bottle down, he did it and was sooooo happy coming out of the tunnel. We got there a little before 10 and within a few minutes we were all roasting in the sunshine. We hit a couple stores to pick up necessities on our way home. We of course got our pretzels and croissants at ALDI for lunch as we rode the train home. Jay put himself to sleep for nap, so unusual! It was a wonderful gift for me. After naps, we went to what we call the Wheelbarrow park which is right near our apartment. There was a little family there playing that had a little pool set up and lots of fun water toys to play with. Jay and Hugh respectfully observed for the first several minutes and then really wanted to join in. The family was super nice and let Jay and Hugh join in. They had a great time! They could have stayed there for hours and it made me miss home a little. When we're home, most of our afternoons are spent on the back porch in our little pool playing around. Luckily, it'll still be warm enough when we get back we should be able to enjoy it a little bit. 

Jay's delight is so fun!

Water!! The best!

Park number 60! It had a zipline, a slide, sand, and water. There were some bushes right in the middle of the park that made it difficult to see both boys if they split up. I am grateful Hugh is usually okay switching scenery because we did it a lot on Wednesday. Many kids at the park had fun toys and it was hard for Jay to share, for Hugh to share, and the other kids. I was grateful to see I am not the only one still working on the skills of sharing. The water was fun and we were able to take the trains back home which is always a highlight for Jay. We stopped for groceries and to get some treats for Matthew's birthday. We met a very nice lady at the park, an oma to some twin girls. She let Jay play with her keys so she definitely gained some brownie points. Her English was good, so it was nice to be able to talk with her. Matthew had to stay late at work for a Happy Hour, which means everyone gets drinks and Matthew gets a soda or juice or something. He had an enjoyable time, but we missed him here. Having the boys for a long day and night makes me dread going back to Matthew's long work hours. We've loved having him home for dinner, bedtime routines, and evenings. 

Hugh loves to push the button, and now he's tall enough to do it! 

Thursday was a public holiday here, so Matthew didn't have to work! The boys woke up like clockwork at 6, and Matthew was kind enough to play with them while I slept in and read my scriptures. We rode the trains and walked down to the Isar. The sun was shining and the water was perfectly clear and cool. We had so much fun playing! Jay is watching Matthew more and more, which is very fun to see. Matthew went and dunked himself so he took his shirt off and Jay wanted to join in the taking the shirt off party as well as the laying in the water. Hugh loved splashing, filling up his bottles with water and dumping them out. The river was shallow for a long ways out with a very mild current which made it the perfect playing ground for the boys. The cool water felt so refreshing! We could have stayed there all day, but wanted to get home for lunch and naps. In the afternoon, we went to the Summer Adventure Village. They had dinosaurs of all kinds on display, they looked real and very cool! Hugh couldn't stop pointing and saying, "Dino" which was so fun! They had all the blow up slides and obstacle courses, including ones with water. Matthew stuck with Jay, following him from thing to thing the whole time we were there. Jay was in heaven! Climbing, jumping, water, sliding, he couldn't get enough! Hugh loved the sand pile, the dinos, and enjoyed the slides as I convinced him to try them and went with him. We played until past dinner time and took the bus home. 

Pulling the stroller through the river rock was a feat!

Matthew and Jay

Hugh, finding all the tiny things

Show me your muscles, Jay!

Bumper boat kind of track

Hugh digging with a giant dino in the background

Hugh liked this little tunnel when he had it to himself. 

We didn't pay for the arcade games, but the boys loved all the buttons

This was Jay's favorite slide! 

Hugh, Jay, and Matthew

Jumping!

Trying to convince Hugh to go was tough

But, he loved it!

He was finally willing to climb a little on his own. 

Water slide!

Friday, alles gute zum geburtstag to Matthew! He turned 30! The boys helped me make a fun sign and they both still point it out with joy and pride saying, "happy" or "daddy". We started our morning early so we could take an early train to Garmisch. Hugh slept most of the train ride, which was a huge blessing. He was very tired as he was up very early. It seems one of the boys will sleep in and the other will wake up, then wake the other....they can't seem to sync up. In Garmisch, we did a hike called, Partnach Gorge. We could take our stroller up to the entrance, then it was a single file hike through this gorge. It was beautiful! I carried Hugh on my back and he did awesome. Matthew took Jay and carried/walked with him. The water was a beautiful blue and gorgeous surroundings. The rocks were wet with water and the ground too. We hiked through the gorge and then back down to our stroller. We found our way to the alpine slide/toboggan and took Jay for a ride. He loved it and I did too! Matthew took Jay on his run, then we walked back to town. We got some bakery food for lunch and a fresh waffle with raspberries and gelato to celebrate Matthew! That night we watched a movie and enjoyed Magnum bars as his official birthday dessert. The most cake like thing Matthew got was a sand castle with a little stick candle and we had fun singing at the park!

Matthew's Germany gift, a chocolate bar and the boys were sooooo excited!

Matthew attempting to teach Jay Rock, Paper, Scissors 

Matthew and Jay

Hugh loved trying to reach out and touch the water!

Olympic ski track from the 1936 Olympics

Jay and I going up the hill! 

Woohoo! 

Jay and M on their run

Fun park right near the toboggan run 

Hugh loved driving this little truck

Hugh pretending to dig!

Matthew and Jay

The boys driving together

Hugh braving the big slide

Beautiful valley and bridge

Happy Birthday waffle!

The boys and Matthew with the birthday sign

The boys had the best time playing chase with Daddy!

Saturday was a pretty chill day. It was raining off and on in the morning, so we walked up to the mall area and did a little shopping and let the boys play in the small play area there. Grocery shopping with Matthew is so much easier and I was grateful for his extra hands to keep the boys in the stroller and load up the groceries at the end. It can feel so stressful when groceries are being given to you at the checkout faster than you can load them yourself and your kids are grabbing things at the same time. After naps, we hit the town by going to three different parks in a new area and ice cream. We ended up being there longer than expected, so we found a pizza place and enjoyed our pizza before we went to the recommended ice cream shop. Matthew helped me get enough parks that I think I will hit 70 before we leave! 

Not sure what was happening outside the window, but the boys faces are priceless!

I've never really talked to mission presidents before, but President and Sister Bates have attended our ward quite often this summer. They were there when we spoke, when I taught the lesson in RS, and have just been around more because their college aged son is attending our ward. I have been so impressed with them. Matthew and I have talked about how being a mission leader is probably one of the hardest callings in the church, so you need the best of the best to do it. Anyways, after a rough Sacrament meeting, Sister Bates (who was sitting right behind us), told us we were doing a great job. She mentioned the sacrifice it is to be there and how church is hard with kids, but she was so glad we were there and told us we were doing good. After such a hard meeting, I felt anything but good, and her words boosted both Matthew and I up. We're trying and we have faith in our Savior, if we didn't, we wouldn't be taking two trains and a bus to church! The Wright family invited us over for lunch after church and we took two buses with them to their home. It was nice to be in a home, even if it was an apartment home. They had doors, separate rooms, and their family room was probably the size of the main area of our apartment. Their six year old daughter was super sweet to Jay and very patient as he was watchful and curious about her. They tried to teach Jay a game and again they were all quite patient as he is still learning about turns and how to pass a dice to another person. Being invited over by them reminds me of the need to be friendly to people at church, and around me in general. Invite, share, and love those around us so we can help them feel seen and needed. 

Sunday evening cuddling and reading, we had to avoid the rain somehow

What are the boys up to recently? Hugh climbs up anywhere he can and is talking more and more. His facial expressions are always funny and get us to laugh. Jay loves pushing the buttons on the train and bus to request stops even when we don't need them. He is so friendly and has started to ask people to come and play which is very sweet. Jay and Hugh love to mimic each other, especially during meals. They love to make each other laugh and really can't stop touching each other until one of them gets hurt. They LOVE going to take the trash out with Matthew, whether it is a stinky diaper or just trash from dinner. Hugh will not be left behind any longer, he knows the routine and wants to be part of the big boy crew. Both of them are quick to laugh and to love which makes it a joy to be their mom. They teach me how to forgive more quickly and how to laugh when I'm so upset I might lose my mind. Whenever they snuggle with me, I forget everything frustrating for those moments and feel so much love for them. I have so much room for improvement, yet they love me anyways!